Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made their priorities clear just days after landing back in the UK with their children. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have settled in the Cotswolds, swapping their "freedom flight" to America for a postcode that guarantees proximity to high society.
Former neighbours' verdict
While the couple may hope the picturesque UK region will serve as a quasi-Montecito, packed with affluent A-listers, their former neighbours had a damning verdict on whether they ever truly integrated into the wealthy Californian enclave. One local reportedly said they "never became part of the community", with another suggesting they only wanted to "hang out" with people who were billionaires, famous or both.
If accurate, these accounts hint at a couple for whom money dictates their inner circle - a suspicion reinforced by a roster of celebrity friends including Oprah Winfrey, Serena Williams and Tyler Perry.
Montecito vs Cotswolds
Montecito-based business owner Wendy Foster described Meghan as "very polite" but suggested she and Harry's titles didn't give them much clout in America, as per the Daily Mail. In contrast, their choice of new home offers a fresh supply of famous faces to rub shoulders with, in a country where their association with the monarchy makes them big fish in a small pond, rather than the reverse.
The couple's shock move may be linked to a desire to be closer to family or a preference for a British education for their children. But, following a string of failed business ventures in the US, finances are likely to play a part too.
Royal ties remain their clearest success
Despite their attempts to build reputations outside the Firm they once painted as so constraining, their clearest successes have been those linked to the Royal Family - from their self-titled Netflix series to Harry's memoir, Spare.
Putting down roots in a prosperous corner of England could help them gain a foothold in high society, while also positioning them to make the most of their renewed proximity to the royals. Whether through UK-based public appearances, monetising their royal ties or instigating another round of family in-fighting, the duke and duchess may find they have few other reliable levers to pull for good press.
Their new neighbours in the Cotswolds don't all seem thrilled at the prospect of welcoming them, but it's the wealthier residents, largely absent from vox pops, who may prove more willing to embrace the couple. That's what Harry and Meghan will be counting on, at least.
