Prince Harry recently sat down for an interview with ITV’s Tom Bradby, which is set to be released next week alongside the publication of his book, Spare.
The interviews took place at the stunning San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California, rather than at the Montecito Olive Garden McMansion as previously speculated.
This plush resort, located in the heart of California’s wine country, offers guests a lavish experience for approximately $2,500 per night.
The San Ysidro Ranch has a rich history of hosting notable figures, including Winston Churchill during a writer’s retreat, as well as John F. and Jackie Kennedy.
Interestingly, it was also the location for Meghan Markle’s Variety magazine photoshoot and interview.
Meghan described the ranch as a low-key luxury resort with charming bungalows nestled into the mountainside, providing breathtaking views of the Pacific coast.
Despite its opulence, the ranch maintains an unpretentious atmosphere, attracting wealthy individuals seeking privacy.
It has been revealed that Penguin Random House, the publisher of Prince Harry’s upcoming book, covered the expenses for the interview location as part of their publicity arrangements.
This decision was made after Harry declined to be filmed at his own home due to privacy concerns.
However, it is worth noting that the couple allowed photos of their son Archie, taken by someone in a bathtub, to be featured in a Netflix series.
Speculation has arisen regarding the ownership of the Montecito Olive Garden property, which Meghan and Harry reportedly purchased in 2020.
Some royal fans suspect that the couple may actually be renting the property, as opposed to being the true owners.
According to records from Montecito Santa Barbara County California, the sale of the property occurred on June 9th, 2020, with the seller listed as Rockbridge LLC.
Further research suggests that Sergei Grishin, also known as Scarface Oligarch, a Russian billionaire going through a high-profile divorce at the time, may have been the previous owner.
This conflicting information has led to confusion, with some sources indicating the property as pending sale, available, or unavailable.
The last recorded sale of the property dates back to 2009, which suggests that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex may have been renting rather than owning the property.
Additional reports suggest that Meghan and Harry resided in various locations, including Soho House and different hotels, while in Montecito.
There are even claims that they temporarily lived in Oprah Winfrey’s second property, which she has since sold.
This information could explain why only one room in the Montecito house was used and photographed, and why no one was present at the residence when Prince Philip passed away, making it difficult for the royal family to contact Harry.
In regards to their Netflix series, it has been revealed that Harry and Meghan rented a luxurious estate in Montecito for filming.
Previous speculation regarding their ownership of the property was debunked by the Daily Mail, confirming that the mansion belonged to someone else.
Interestingly, this Montecito mansion is located approximately 3.5 miles away from the couple’s current residence, which has been glimpsed in previous shared images.
Both houses share a similar beachy California cool design and even feature a chicken coop.
As Prince Harry’s interview and book release draw near, the details surrounding the filming location and the couple’s real estate endeavors continue to captivate audiences.