Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have been labeled as “neighbors from hell” by residents in their upscale neighborhood of Montecito, California.

The couple, who relocated to the United States after stepping back from their royal duties, have faced backlash from locals who are growing tired of their presence.

The controversy surrounding Meghan and Harry escalated in 2021 when the Daily Mail published a story about Harry returning to California from London after attending Prince Philip’s funeral.

In the comment section of the article, a Santa Barbara resident claimed that the couple’s neighbors in Montecito are less than thrilled to have them living there.

The disgruntled netizen wrote, “Well, against everyone’s wishes, he returned back here.

It’s not like she’s on bedrest.

She’s been walking around the lower village since her pregnancy, and her mother has been seen with their first child, waiting to be spotted.

At the honor bar, she and Harry walked by, and a group of people having brunch yelled ‘GO HOME.’

I couldn’t help but chuckle; she looked ridiculous.

Our town is comprised of old Hollywood, not newcomers like Oprah and Ellen.

They’re nothing but annoyances.

This just proves that money can’t buy class.

The paparazzi frenzy caused by these two has wreaked havoc in town, to the point where we can’t even enjoy a simple bike ride.

Their egos have gotten in the way, and they are not welcome here.

And clearly, from the other posts, it seems they aren’t welcome back in the UK either.

It’s a shame to disrespect a woman who has dedicated her entire life to service, service she never asked for, and now she has lost the love of her life.

Hashtag leave Montecito.”

The discontent among the neighbors has only increased as Meghan and Harry continue to release controversial material through their Netflix series and Harry’s upcoming memoir, “Spare.”

Martha Kellner, a reporter for Sky News, interviewed residents of Montecito to gauge their opinions on the couple’s relentless revelations about the British royal family.

One resident questioned, “Why are they doing this?”

while a former female television executive shared that her friends were growing tired of the couple’s antics.

She said, “My friends turn their noses up at it all.

Take, for example, their hundred-million-dollar contract with Netflix.

They made the deal for the sake of their staff.

It’s not their money; it’s for their company and their staff.

So, I’m sure part of this is driven by the lifestyle they desire, and they’re thinking, ‘What else can we sell?'”

Interestingly, most residents in Montecito have largely ignored Harry’s memoir, with one bookstore owner stating that she didn’t sell a single copy on the day of its release.

Les Fierstein, a former Hollywood comedy writer turned local magazine editor, noted that the royal family’s feuds were seen as a remote curiosity by many residents, and having Meghan and Harry in the neighborhood hasn’t changed that perception.

“For most Montecitans, if not most Americans, royal watching is like bangers and mash.

It’s something they’ve heard of but not really part of their culture,” Fierstein explained.

He added that while locals don’t pay much attention to the couple, they do get irritated by British tabloid journalists attempting to reach them.

Finding a Montecito resident who owns a copy of “Spare” is challenging, let alone someone who has finished reading it.

T.C.

Boyle, a renowned short story writer and novelist residing in Montecito, said, “Didn’t read it, won’t read it.”

The only individual willing to discuss the book in detail was Richard, a British expatriate who writes a gossip column for a local newspaper.

After reading “Spare” from cover to cover, he expressed his disapproval, stating, “I think the whole thing is reprehensible.

It’s doing enormous harm not only to the royal family but also to Harry and his wife.