One of Meghan Markle’s neighbors in Montecito, California, has expressed discontent with her presence in the community. Richard Mineards shared his thoughts with the Daily Mail, stating, “I personally don’t think that Meghan is an asset to our community,” adding that she is not active in local events.
While Mineards feels this way about Markle, he has a more positive view of her husband, Prince Harry, whom he describes as “quite jolly.” He noted, “Meghan doesn’t seem to get seen anywhere,” while also pointing out that Harry is rarely spotted as well.
In July 2023, 88-year-old Frank McGinity, a U.S. Navy veteran, recounted his experience of feeling snubbed when he approached Markle and Harry to share films he created about the area’s history after their arrival.
A neighbor voices concerns about Meghan Markle’s involvement in the Montecito community
McGinity, who lives in a guest house next to the couple’s property, explained in his memoir, Get Off Your Street, “I have a big house next to Harry and Meghan’s property and I live in the guest house while renting the main house out on Airbnb.” He recounted trying to deliver the films on a CD, only to be told by a man at the gate, “They’re not interested.”
Like Mineards, McGinity remarked on the couple’s lack of visibility in the neighborhood, stating, “We don’t see them very much around here.” He added that he found it surprising that they chose to live in an area often referred to as a place “where the elephants come to die.”
After stepping back from their royal duties in January 2020, Markle, 43, and Harry, 40, relocated to California, purchasing a stunning $14 million mansion in Montecito. The estate features nine bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, and spans 18,000 square feet, complete with a pool, tennis court, tea house, rose garden, olive trees, a two-bedroom guest house, and a children’s cottage.
It seems Markle prefers mingling with Hollywood celebrities over engaging with local residents. She has formed friendships with Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, who recently moved back to the UK reportedly due to Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential election victory.
Additionally, Markle has been seen with Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, and Oprah Winfrey, according to gossip blogger Perez Hilton. Rumors suggest that Harry misses living in the UK, but he has expressed concerns about safety for Markle and their two children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, citing inadequate police protection.
This week, the author of Spare reflected on his late mother, Princess Diana, believing she would have wanted him to raise his children in the U.S. to experience freedoms unavailable in the UK.
