Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Neighbors Reveal Rare Details About Their Life in California
Picture Harry, like every other dad in America doing school drop-off—except with a security detail following him in a Range Rover.

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to live next to literal royalty, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's neighbors are here for you.
(And, spoiler alert: Harry and Meghan sound like pretty normal neighbors, all things considered—minus the necessarily constant presence of their security teams, at least.)
It's been more than four years since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided to step down from their duties as working royals and move their family across the pond to the United States. Since then, the couple and their children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, have put down roots and made a home in Montecito, California—and their neighbors have started sharing some details about the family's lives in the Golden State.
Insiders say Harry is the more low-key (and less frequently spotted) of the two, but it sounds like when he is out, he's like most other dads who live in the suburbs (again, minus the security detail).
“Normally when you see him around here, he’s walking his Labrador on the beach or on his bicycle followed by his security in a Range Rover,” a neighbor told The Telegraph. “They keep themselves to themselves. I haven’t seen Harry around much.”
Other tidbits about Harry's life in California include reports that he starts is days with 30-40 minutes of meditation, works out with personal trainers, and handles the morning school run with his son and daughter. Oh, and he also sometimes does some bird-watching in his garden, which is probably the chillest way possible to shake up an already extremely chill morning routine.
As for Meghan, she's reportedly seen out and about more than Harry, and when she is, she's typically doing very normal things like shopping at the farmer's market, getting lunch with friends, or meeting up with her mahjong group.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
If that doesn't seem like a lot of Sussex intel for neighbors to share, it's probably because there isn't much Sussex intel available, even after four years. Richard Mineards, a society columnist for the Montecito Journal who lives in the same community as the royal couple, explained that Harry and Meghan just aren't seen a lot in the neighborhood—even though everyone is very aware that they're there.
“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,” he said. “We have got a lot of very rich and very famous people here, and none of them have a security retinue like the Sussexes,” he adds. “The community is waiting for them – they’re gnashing at the bit. The cachet of a Duke and Duchess!”
Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with over 10 years of professional experience covering entertainment of all genres, from new movie and TV releases to nostalgia, and celebrity news. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
Queen Elizabeth "Was Only Afraid of One Thing"—and it Caused Debates Within Her Family
"She could put up with everything else," royal biographer Robert Hardman said.
-
I Frolicked In the Tulip Fields of Holland In Search of Firmer Skin
Going straight to the source at the infamous Bloomeffects flower farm.
-
Kate Middleton Subtly Honors Holocaust Victims with Her Jewelry at VE Day Concert
The Princess of Wales nailed symbolic dressing, as usual.
-
Prince Harry Spends Prince Archie's Birthday Honoring Princess Diana's Legacy After Bombshell BBC Interview
"This generation isn’t waiting for permission to lead — they are already doing it."
-
Why King Charles Is Reportedly "Frustrated and Upset" by Prince Harry’s Security Appeal
Charles is also reportedly upset with Harry "on a more personal level."
-
Prince Harry's Years-Long Battle to Reinstate His Security Has Ended After Judge Dismisses Case
The Duke of Sussex faced a major blow in his bid to protect himself and his family in the U.K.
-
Princess Diana "Insisted" Prince Harry and Prince William Buck One Tradition That Prince George Is Facing
The late princess took control when it came to this aspect of her sons' lives.
-
Meghan Markle Used Her Outfits to Send Messages When She Couldn’t, She Says
The Duchess of Sussex reflected on the impact of her clothing at a time when she "wasn't out talking."
-
Meghan Markle Says This Feature Prevented Her From Modeling as It Wasn't "A Sign of Beauty"
The Duchess of Sussex opened up about the early days of her career in her new podcast.
-
Meghan Markle Shares Oprah's Advice About Starting a Business
The iconic talk show host helped the duchess find herself in jam.
-
Why Meghan Markle Sends "Secret Emails" to Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet "Every Night"
Meghan and Harry's kids will be able to access the emails "maybe when they're 16 or...18."