The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s lavish mansion in California is under threat from on-going, extensive wildfires.
Inside Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s £11m LA mansion as pair face wildfire evacuation
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s lavish mansion in California is under threat from on-going, extensive wildfires.
Meghan and Harry’s home is under threat from ongoing wildfires (Image: Google / Getty)
Deadly wildfires are burning in many parts of Los Angeles, forcing the evacuation of over 130,000 people, and five people are reported dead, as thousands continue to lose their homes.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussexes’ home in Montecito, California, could be ordered to evacuate their home, which is located in Santa Barbara County.
In a map of the state, energy company, Southern California Edison (SCE) has indicated Santa Barbara is in a ‘high risk’ fire area and power may be shut off to prevent wildfires. Along with Montecito, some of the other neighbourhoods in Santa Barbara that are considered a ‘high fire risk’ area include Eucalyptus Hill, Riviera, Foothill, and San Roque.
This could mean Prince Harry and Meghan Markle who currently live in their multi-million-pound mansion with their two children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, could be ordered to evacuate if the situation is deemed dangerous.
Meghan and Harry live in Montecito, California, in a nine bedroom property (Image: Netflix)
Harry and Meghan’s Montecito luxury abode boasts a total of five acres of land (Image: Google Images)
Meghan and Harry first purchased their home back in 2020 after quitting royal life and leaving the UK. At first, the couple moved from Canada to the California home of Hollywood pal, Tyler Perry, who offered them a safe place to stay.
They then bought their sprawling nine-bedroom property for $14.6million (£11.6million). However, new estimates by property website Zillow show that the home could now command upwards of $29million (£23.2million) – meaning the property has increased in value by a whopping £11.6million.
The luxury mansion has an impressive list of amenities including a home theatre, a gym, a wet and dry sauna, a guest house with two bedrooms, a library, a home office, a garage, a wine cellar and an arcade.
Meghan admitted in 2022 to The Cut Magazine that the couple both fell in love instantly with the home: “We were looking in this area…and this house kept popping up online in searches…We didn’t have jobs, so we just were not going to come and see this house. It wasn’t possible. It’s like when I was younger and you’re window shopping — it’s like, I don’t want to go and look at all the things that I can’t afford. That doesn’t feel good.”
The couple reportedly ended up visiting the house and fell in love with the grounds, with Meghan claiming that two interconnected palm trees in the garden that reminded Harry of their relationship were a major selling point, as reported in the Mirror.
Wildfires have sent thousands fleeing (Image: Getty)
During Harry and Meghan’s tell-all interview with US TV host, Oprah Winfrey, the public got to see a chicken coop owned by the couple.
The Mail also described the lavish estate: “The estate has sweeping lawns, tiered rose gardens, tall Italian cypress trees, blooming lavender, century-old olive trees, a tennis court, tea house, children’s cottage, and a pool.”
A real estate expert also touched down on the running costs of the huge £12million home, claiming that it must cost thousands of pounds every year just to look after it.
Eric Bramlett, of real estate company Bramlett Residential, told Fabulous magazine: “Managing a £12million ($14 million) mansion like Harry and Meghan’s in Montecito takes a lot of work.”
The expert said that running a luxury home like this would require many members of staff which could contribute to high operating costs. He added that such a mansion would require around 10-15 full-time staff like housekeepers, a private chef and some form of security.
Whilst Meghan’s new show for the streaming giant Netflix, ‘With Love, Meghan’ will explore the Duchess’s best “tips and tricks” on everything from gardening to cooking was filmed in Montecito, it was not filmed in the couple’s own home. Instead, the show was filmed at a rented mansion nearby, reportedly worth $6million (£4.8million).
