Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Face a Brutal Montecito Farewell as Neighbours Say “Good Riddance” Ahead of Reported UK Return

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may be preparing to begin a dramatic new chapter in Britain, but some of their neighbours in California appear decidedly unmoved by the prospect of losing the famous couple.

As reports suggest the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are preparing to relocate to the UK after six years in America, several people living or working around their exclusive Montecito community have delivered an unexpectedly harsh verdict on their departure.

One local’s reaction was particularly blunt: “I’m glad they’re leaving. Good riddance.”

The comments provide a striking counterpoint to the enormous attention surrounding Harry and Meghan’s reported return to Britain — and suggest their departure from California could be viewed very differently by some of the people who have lived alongside them.

Six years after leaving Britain, the Sussexes are preparing to return

Harry and Meghan established their California life after stepping away from frontline royal duties in 2020.

Montecito became the centre of the new independent existence they were building with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, far removed from palace life and the British tabloid spotlight.

Now that arrangement could be changing.

The Sussexes are reportedly preparing to return to Britain at the end of August, with the family expected to establish themselves in a private, non-royal residence.

Archie and Lilibet have also reportedly been enrolled in British schools ahead of the new academic year.

But while the move has generated intense speculation in Britain about what it could mean for Harry’s relationship with the Royal Family, attention in California has turned to what the Sussexes are leaving behind.

And according to some Montecito locals quoted by The Sun, there will be few tears from their corner of the community.

“She became a laughing stock here”

One of the strongest criticisms came from a woman identified as Jennifer, who reportedly previously worked at a shop Meghan visited.

Jennifer claimed Meghan had become increasingly unpopular with some people locally.

“She became a laughing stock here because all she would do is steal other people’s looks and ideas,” she alleged.

However, her comments were not entirely hostile.

Jennifer also expressed sympathy for the Sussexes and suggested their increasingly isolated position could present difficulties in the future.

“I feel sorry for them but hope they find happiness,” she said. “I feel they have ostracised themselves here and abroad. I fear for their future.”

These remain the personal opinions of individuals quoted in the report rather than an assessment of how the wider Montecito community views Harry and Meghan.

But another local was considerably less diplomatic.

“I’m glad they’re leaving. Good riddance”

A shop employee quoted in the report responded to news of the Sussexes’ expected departure with an unmistakably sharp farewell.

“I’m glad they’re leaving. Good riddance,” the person said.

The employee also complained about Meghan drawing attention to Butterfly Beach on her show, claiming that the increased exposure had negatively affected a place valued by locals.

It is an extraordinary reaction considering Montecito has long been known as a haven for wealthy and famous residents seeking greater privacy.

Harry and Meghan are hardly the only celebrities to call the affluent coastal enclave home.

Yet another resident suggested the couple’s approach to security had made them stand out.

Security reportedly made the Sussexes noticeable

Harry has repeatedly spoken about concerns surrounding his family’s safety, and security has remained one of the most contentious issues of his post-royal life.

But according to one Montecito resident quoted in the report, the couple’s visible protection distinguished them from other famous residents.

“They’re the only celebrities here who go around with bodyguards,” the person claimed.

The resident argued that other high-profile figures in the community behaved differently.

“Other A-listers just as famous and likely richer than them walk around casually like any normal person.”

Again, that is one resident’s characterization rather than an independently established description of the security arrangements of every celebrity living in Montecito.

For Harry in particular, however, the subject carries much greater significance.

His concerns about security have been central to his reluctance to bring Meghan and their children back to Britain regularly, making the family’s reported decision to establish a UK base particularly notable.

Britain will not mean a return to working royal life

Despite the scale of the reported move, Harry and Meghan are not expected to resume official royal duties.

The couple will remain non-working members of the Royal Family and are understood to be establishing a private family life rather than attempting to restore their former positions within the monarchy.

There is also no indication that the “half-in, half-out” model discussed around the time of their 2020 departure will be revived.

That arrangement — combining commercial independence with a reduced official royal role — was rejected following their decision to step back.

Their return therefore represents something very different.

Harry and Meghan may once again be living in Britain, but they will not be returning to the royal system they left behind.

King Charles could benefit from having the family closer

The relocation could nevertheless have major consequences for Harry’s relationship with his father.

King Charles was reportedly informed about the family’s plans shortly before news of the move became public.

The King is understood to welcome the possibility of spending more private time with Harry and particularly with Archie and Lilibet.

That could become one of the most significant aspects of the Sussexes’ return.

Physical distance has defined much of Harry’s relationship with his British relatives since the family settled in California. Living in the UK again would remove that barrier, even if the deeper disagreements remain unresolved.

Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace have not publicly commented on the reported relocation.

A complicated goodbye to the American dream

When Harry and Meghan moved to California, the decision represented much more than a change of address.

America offered them the opportunity to build careers, pursue commercial ventures and raise their children away from the restrictions of working royal life.

Montecito became the symbol of that new beginning.

Six years later, their reported return to Britain suggests another major recalibration.

The couple may retain their connections to California, and relocating to Britain does not necessarily mean abandoning everything they have built in America.

Yet their departure would still close an important chapter.

And while royal watchers are focused on whether Harry can rebuild relationships with Charles and William, some of the reaction from Montecito has introduced another uncomfortable element to the story.

For at least some of the people who have shared the Sussexes’ California community, the farewell appears unlikely to be sentimental.

One resident’s three-word verdict captured that mood more sharply than anything else:

“Good riddance.”