Monteito, California’s exclusive enclave, has been fracturing along battle lines drawn by the presence of controversial royal transplants.

The community, once favored by celebrities seeking privacy and affluence away from Hollywood spotlight, has become the unlikely stage for a neighborhood dispute of royal proportions.

For nearly four years, the community has grappled with the implications of hosting high-profile residents whose presence has reportedly transformed the character of the once-quiet haven.

The tensions have been simmering beneath the surface since the couple’s arrival in 2020. A routine neighborhood association meeting quickly devolved into a heated confrontation when the topic turned to security measures and traffic disruptions allegedly connected to the royal residents.

The meeting ended abruptly when several residents walked out in protest after proposals to address security concerns were dismissed by supporters of the famous couple.

The couple purchased their 9-bedroom 16b estate in the summer of 2020, reportedly paying 14.65 million for the 18,000 square ft property. Initially, many residents expressed optimism about their global profile, hoping their global profile might benefit the community in subtle ways without disrupting its carefully cultivated atmosphere of exclusivity and discretion.

However, complaints began circulating about increased paparazzi presence, security personnel monitoring public roads, and disruptions to the neighborhood’s cherished tranquility.

The controversy has affected property dynamics in unexpected ways, with instances of people specifically requesting homes either near or deliberately distant from their estate.

The conflict has spilled beyond neighborhood boundaries into local governance, with officials being careful not to explicitly naming the couple but references to recent arrivals with extraordinary security needs leaving little doubt about the subject under debate.