The news that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle plan to leave their Montecito home and return to Britain this month has been met with apathy by those who live in the exclusive Californian community.
Residents of the celebrity-filled enclave could scarcely muster any interest in the couple’s departure.
“We don’t really give a c**p,” Vanessa Lynn, who manages a women’s boutique in the area, told the Daily Mail. Lynn described Montecito as having once been “a nice sleepy little town” before the Sussexes’ arrival drew crowds of sightseers hoping for a glimpse of the royal couple.
According to Lynn, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex never truly integrated into the fabric of Montecito life. “Harry and Meghan didn’t really assimilate into the community,” she said. “We rarely saw them walking down the street or shopping in town.”
The news that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle plan to leave their Montecito home and return to Britain this month has been met with apathy by those who live in the exclusive Californian community.
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Her friend Debbie echoed this sentiment, expressing shared frustration among local business owners. “They never really went out and about anywhere,” she said. “We all hoped they would support local shops and patronise local restaurants, but that rarely happened.”
In a community where protecting the privacy of its famous inhabitants is a tradition, many residents would only share their first names when speaking about the Sussexes’ departure.
Yet one prominent Montecito figure is reportedly rather pleased about the Duchess of Sussex’s impending exit.
Sources have revealed that actress Gwyneth Paltrow, 53, the area’s best-known resident and founder of lifestyle brand Goop, grew weary of persistent comparisons between herself and Meghan, 45, whose own brand, As Ever, invited endless parallels.
According to Lynn, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex never truly integrated into the fabric of Montecito life.
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“Gwyneth didn’t like being compared to Meghan, so she is glad she is moving out of Montecito,” a source said. “Gwyneth also did not like all the comparisons with Meghan’s brand and her brand Goop, it was like enough already! But she wishes them well with their new life.”
Paltrow has previously stated that she and the Duchess are not close, having spent time together only “a few times.”
Despite this, a second source insisted there is no genuine rift between the two women, noting that “Gwyneth really admires Meghan” and that “the world has been hard on her.”
The source added that Paltrow objected to being pitted against another woman, viewing such comparisons as “petty and mean.”
Beyond Paltrow, other wealthy and well-known Montecito residents had grown frustrated by the couple’s tendency to dominate local attention.
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The pair did appear together in a social media video last year, quashing rumours of any falling out.
Beyond Paltrow, other wealthy and well-known Montecito residents had grown frustrated by the couple’s tendency to dominate local attention.
“Everything in Montecito was about Harry and Meghan this, Harry and Meghan that, and it got tiring, especially for the other stars who live there,” one source said.
Whispers about a return to England had been circulating in Hollywood circles since earlier this year, with insiders suggesting the Sussexes felt they had exhausted their opportunities with streaming platforms Netflix and Spotify.
Paltrow’s circle reportedly views the move positively, believing it will bring Harry closer to his family.