Reason Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Are Known as ‘Local Villains’ in Their Montecito Neighborhood
It’s no secret that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been trying to rebrand and repair their images since the latter part of last year. But now those efforts might not mean much as the duchess is again being called out for mistreating staffers.
The two were also dealt a blow when some of their Montecito neighbors publicly spoke out about why the prince and former Suits star aren’t popular in their town. Now, according to an expose in Vanity Fair, some fellow residents have labeled the Sussexes as “local villains” and there’s a reason for that.
Read on to find out why.
Other Monecito residents have dubbed Prince Harry and ‘starlet’ Meghan ‘local villains’
For its February 2025 cover storyVanity Fair spoke with dozens of people who live alongside Meghan and Harry in the coastal California community of Montecito. And they have some strong feelings about why the Sussexes aren’t good for their neighborhood and are referred to as “local villains.”
“I think everyone, including the A-list celebs, would prefer that [Montecito’s] not on the map like it is,” a resident told the publication. “It’s a place where no one would ever ‘bother’ a famous person beyond saying hello at the coffee shop, as they would to anyone else.”
Another neighbor complained that the town used to be a “quiet” place.
The prince and “the starlet” have become “local villains,” according to several people who spoke with VF. The reason for that is because the duke and duchess attribute to the “increase in housing prices, out-of-towners coming in driving too fast, and taking up all the street parking.” Moreover, they say because of the attention on their town now, “You can’t just walk into Lucky’s for dinner anymore.”
And one Montecitan fumed: “I still think they’re [Meghan and Harry] the most entitled, disingenuous people on the planet. They moved away from England to get away from the scrutiny of the press, and all they do is try and get in the press in the United States.”
Other neighbors have said they can’t wait for the duke and duchess to move out
As The Sun noted, this isn’t the first the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes’ neighbors have complained about them and said they hope they move out.
PR and communications worker Barry Maher, who lives very close to Harry and Meghan’s home, described the couple as nothing more than a “traveling soap opera.”
And columnist for the Montecito Journal Richard Mineards explained: “It’s a very wealthy community, we have a lot of people giving a lot of money to our cultural organizations as well as charities, but we don’t see them. They live rather splendidly, it couldn’t be a nicer place. The community is waiting for them — they’re gnashing [champing] at the bit.”
Mineards added that people rarely see them. But on occasion, Prince Harry is spotted with his security detail on a walk or a bike ride.
