Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expected to return to the US next month, just weeks after ending their six-year exile and moving back to Britain. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to travel to Los Angeles for the Daytime Emmy Awards on October 30, where Meghan is nominated in the Outstanding Lifestyle Series category for her Netflix show With Love, Meghan.
The quick return has surprised some of their former neighbours in Montecito – although others say they are hardly looking forward to having the couple back.
Neighbour claims couple 'couldn't be bothered'
Ciara Curtis, 52, who has lived in the affluent California town for four decades, claimed Harry and Meghan made little effort to engage with ordinary residents during their years there. She said: "I don't mean to be unkind. But, from the moment they moved in here, they have made it very clear they really can't be bothered with regular folk and they've only ever been interested in mixing with anyone as rich and famous as they are."
Ciara highlighted one incident shortly after the Sussexes arrived in 2020, which to her represents their relationship with the local community.
Wine bottle returned unopened
A neighbour, identified as Susan, reportedly left a bottle of local wine and a handwritten welcome note with a member of the couple's security team, who said he would pass them on. But the following morning, both the unopened letter and bottle were allegedly found back on Susan's doorstep.
Ciara said: "They could have easily given away the bottle of wine to a member of their staff and written a two-paragraph 'thank you' note back to Susan. But the thoughtless act of brushing aside a small act of kindness set the tone for how they behaved and how they were perceived after that."
Couple 'kept to themselves'
Other neighbours said the couple largely kept to themselves. Advertising executive Marc Atwell, 42, said local stars had also sought privacy but usually found ways to engage with the community.
"Almost all of them, except the British royals, have at some stage or other joined in community events, either by hosting fund-raisers for local charities or giving cosy little interviews to local weekly papers that cover this area," he said. "Harry and Meghan made it clear right from the get-go that they didn't want to do anything like that."
His wife Laura, 42, added: "I'm surprised they're going to be heading back so soon to Montecito." The couple are expected to attend the awards ceremony at Hollywood's Palladium Theatre before returning to Britain.
