Selling So Soon? Why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s California Home Was No Fairy Tale

Word is out on the serene streets of Montecito that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, aka Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, are no longer enthralled by their regal real estate in this bucolic suburb near Santa Barbara, CA.

Reports are circulating that although the comely couple enjoy the beauty of this A-list celebrity enclave, they aren’t so happy with the 18,000-square-foot mansion they purchased for $14,650,000 a mere 18 months ago. Signs are afoot that they are quietly trying to sell their home, and considering buying another in the area.

At first blush, this rumored sale is quite a head-scratcher. You’d think the nine-bedroom,16-bath Mediterranean mansion sitting on 7.5 acres would happily house the family of four, which includes 2-year-old Archie and 7-month-old Lilibet Diana.

There’s even a two-bedroom guest cottage for Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, when she comes to visit. Other amenities include a children’s cottage, pool, tennis court, teahouse, olive grove, and rose gardens. They’ve also added a coop for their famous rescue chickens.

Luxe amenities inside the mansion include a spa with a dry sauna and steam room, home theater, wine cellar, arcade and game room, and five-car garage.

So why would they be so eager to leave a royal paradise like this?

What’s wrong with Harry and Meghan’s California mansion

“To be clear, there is absolutely nothing ‘wrong’ with the lovely estate Harry and Meghan purchased,” says Jill Nelsen, estates agent of The Agency in Montecito and Santa Barbara. “It’s located within a beautiful, hedged, and stonewalled enclave in the heart of Montecito. Like many properties in town, most buyers would choose to update the interiors with new finishes and technology, as the couple has reportedly chosen to do.”

Could it be the area itself?

Some royal watchers were surprised the couple moved there in the first place. After all, it is a bit off the beaten path from the famous celebrity enclaves of Los Angeles, including Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Bel-Air, and Malibu.

But that actually may have added to the area’s appeal for the former royals. Just 90 minutes north of Los Angeles, it’s not as accessible to paparazzi and other celeb watchers intent on infringing on their privacy. Their friends Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres also live in grand Montecito estates nearby for that very reason.

Plus, “Montecito is an understated, refined, and gracious community,” says Nelsen. “With an ideal climate, beautiful beaches, and views of the Santa Ynez mountains, there is an unusual sophistication to this coastal town. Although some might find this small town of under 10,000 residents sleepy, it is part of the charm. Montecito has always been home to numerous celebrities, and it is second nature that their privacy is respected.”

Still, many surmise that the reason Meghan and Harry want to move is that their home is not quite private enough. Their property itself is gated, but the community is not, so fans and stalkers could literally follow them home, right up to the gates.

In fact, according to information obtained in April under the Freedom of Information laws by the British PA news agency, police were called to this residence nine times over nine months. The most worrisome incidents occurred on Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas in 2020, when a trespasser identified as Nickolas Brooks drove over 2,300 miles from Ohio to pay the ex-royals an unwelcome visit. (He was arrested during his second attempt.)

“This must be terribly disconcerting for Harry, who grew up in the royal family in a very controlled environment,” says Peter Lorimer, who is originally from London and now lives in Los Angeles, where he is vice president of Corcoran Global Living, Beverly Hills. “Living in a home of that size, an intruder could enter and be undetected for some time.”

Will their home sell for a profit?

Even if they sell so soon after buying, and despite steep closing costs, Lorimer believes the couple could stand to make a substantial profit.

“I’ve been selling luxury real estate in Los Angeles for quite some time, and I can tell you that when a house has a celebrity pedigree, it surely enhances the exit price,” he says.

He notes that the Sussexes’ home has a “particularly delicious selling point” because there are many homes in Southern California that have been owned by stars, “but only two or three that have been owned by British royalty.”

Where will Harry and Markle live next?

One thing going against the couple in their home search is that the luxury market Montecito is rather small compared with Los Angeles. Also, Montecito is particularly hot right now, with fewer homes than ever on the market.

Nelsen suggests they take a look at a fully renovated seven-bedroom, 14-bath, 12,168-square-foot home with the latest in technology and security on a bit more manageable 2-acre lot. It’s a very discreet pocket listing at the moment, meaning the general public wouldn’t realize it’s on the market. But it’s available to those in the know for $27,750,000.

Ref: Selling So Soon? Why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s California Home Was No Fairy Tale