When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved to Montecito, California, in 2020, the decision represented a new beginning.

After stepping away from their roles as working members of the Royal Family, the couple wanted a quieter life away from the pressure and intense media attention they experienced in the United Kingdom.

Montecito appeared to offer exactly that: privacy, security, and distance from royal drama.

However, six years later, as the Sussex family prepares to return to the UK, the reaction from some local residents reveals a very different perspective on their time in California.

According to a report from Yahoo/StyleCaster, some Montecito neighbors are reportedly pleased that Harry and Meghan are leaving the community, believing their departure could bring back the peaceful atmosphere the area was known for.

When the couple first arrived in 2020, some residents were already concerned about the attention their presence could bring.

One local resident explained:

“There had already been so much negative press and attention surrounding them and the royal family.”

The concern was not necessarily about Harry and Meghan personally, but about the possibility that a quiet community could suddenly become a global media destination.

Montecito has long been home to famous figures, including Oprah Winfrey, but it has maintained a reputation for privacy rather than public attention.

According to some residents, Harry and Meghan changed that dynamic.

After six years, some locals reportedly feel ready for the area to return to a quieter lifestyle.

One resident said:

“Montecito is a very private, peaceful place, and I think a lot of people here will be happy to see things go back to being a little quieter.”

The report also noted that these comments represent the opinions of certain residents and conversations within the community, not the entire population of Montecito.

However, some reactions were much more direct.

One neighbor reportedly told Page Six:

“Good riddance!”

The criticism centered around the amount of media attention surrounding Harry and Meghan.

Some residents claimed that the couple brought an “unusual level of press and media attention” to a town that values discretion.

Others went further, alleging that Harry and Meghan frequently requested significant favors from friends and connections because of their royal status, while not contributing enough back to the wider community.

Some critics even used the mocking nickname:

“The Grift and Griftess of Sussex.”

Another resident summarized the frustration by saying:

“The town is exhausted by them, the entitlement and the never ending drama.”

These claims reflect one side of the story and come from unnamed sources, but they highlight the complicated relationship between celebrity visibility and communities built around privacy.

For Harry and Meghan, their move to California was supposed to represent freedom from the constraints of royal life.

Instead, their global fame followed them across the Atlantic.

The couple continued to attract intense attention through interviews, documentaries, business projects, and public appearances.

Their return to the UK now marks another major transition.

However, this does not appear to be a complete departure from America.

Reports indicate that Harry and Meghan plan to keep their multi-million-dollar Montecito mansion, as well as their vacation property in Portugal.

This suggests their relationship with the United States is not ending completely.

Instead, they may be creating a life split between different countries and identities.

The move also comes as Harry and Meghan attempt to build a new chapter in Britain, where they will once again face intense public attention and questions about their relationship with the Royal Family.

The contrast is striking.

They left the UK hoping to escape constant scrutiny, but their arrival in America created a different kind of spotlight.

Now, as they prepare to return, some people in California appear ready to move on.

The Montecito chapter of Harry and Meghan’s story was never simple.

It brought opportunities, privacy, and a new life away from royal duties.

But it also showed that even outside the palace walls, the couple’s public image continued to shape how people viewed them.

Their departure may change the atmosphere in Montecito, but the attention surrounding Harry and Meghan is unlikely to disappear wherever they go.