Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved to Montecito because of its reputation as a quiet enclave 90 minutes north of Los Angeles. While neighbors like Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres rolled out the welcome mat, not everyone in the small town was as friendly — and they can’t stop talking about the royals.

Even though many A-list celebrities moved to Montecito over the pandemic somehow Harry and Meghan are the ones being dubbed “local villains,” per a recent Vanity Fair article. It might seem easy to blame the Sussexes for the increase in housing prices, foot traffic, and crowded streets, but it is an issue facing much of Southern California — it’s not a royal issue.

In the same breath Harry and Meghan are blamed for ruining Montecito, they are also criticized by Kinsey Schofield, host of the To Di For Daily podcast, via Fox News Digital, for not engaging with their neighbors. “I have combed the society papers and magazines in Montecito to see if Harry and Meghan are photographed at local charity galas or mentioned for community contributions,” Schofield claimed. “They simply are not. They are considered introverts.” Friendly, but not open and engaging.” Make it make sense! How can they ruin a community if they are staying behind the walls of their property?

In September 2024, the Duchess of Sussex made a quiet appearance at the Godmothers bookstore’s grand opening along with Winfrey. The small business was opened by Jennifer Rudolph Walsh and Victoria Jackson, and it supports “local authors” who live in the area. And per the Montecito Journal, Harry and Meghan were the first donors for the town’s Annual Montecito Holiday Car Parade in 2021. It sounds like they have contributed to their community more than once.

The nosy neighbors, who have never met Harry or Meghan, love to keep talking to the press though. It’s enough noise that the couple is reportedly considering a move to Los Angeles. “Meghan still loves Montecito, she always says how gorgeous it is, but the neighborhood vibe isn’t totally her speed,” a source told Life & Style. The “busybodies” of the community are making Meghan feel like the “small-town vibe” isn’t for her family anymore.

If Harry and Meghan make the move to LA, they will be criticized for leaving Montecito behind. Still, the neighborhood isn’t offering them the peace they deserve for their young family, and we wouldn’t blame them if they decided to plant roots elsewhere.