There have been plenty of stories from several neighbors about what it’s like living in Montecito since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved into town.
The town, nestled in Santa Barbra County, was once considered a celebrity enclave where even A-list stars could live a pretty quiet life without being harassed by overzealous fans or aggressive paparazzi. But that changed when the former working royals showed up as they drew so much attention to the sleepy coastal community that even non-celebrity residents have complained that it’s not what it used to be.
So what do some of the high-profile folks think about having the prince and the Suits alum as neighbors? Well, actor Rob Lowe had an interesting six-word response to that question.
What Lowe admitted when asked about living near the Sussexes
Several people have placed the blame squarely on Meghan and Harry for putting Montecito on the map and making the once-quiet town a chaotic hotspot for tourists.
In a February 2025 cover story, Vanity Fair spoke with dozens of people living near the couple. They had some strong feelings about why the Sussexes aren’t good for their neighborhood and referred to them as “local villains.” The reason for that is they feel the duke and duchess’s presence has contributed to the “increase in housing prices, out-of-towners coming in driving too fast, and taking up all the street parking.” Moreover, local residents find it annoying that they “can’t just walk into Lucky’s for dinner anymore.”
Rob Lowe, who lived in Montecito for decades, was asked about the difference having Meghan and Harry there.
“They definitely have brought a lot of attention to my sleepy little town,” he previously told E! News. “Let me tell you something: once the royals move into your neighborhood, the neighborhood is never going to be the same.”
Lowe feels that there are pros and cons to having the Sussexes as neighbors. He said that the good thing is that the “property values go up” but the bad thing is that “the lines are longer at Starbucks.”
Lowe has owned several properties in Montecito over the years, but today his primary residence is in Beverly Hills. No word on if the long lines at Starbucks had anything to do with that.
Other reasons some neighbors want Harry and Meghan out of the area
Other residents gave their thoughts about Meghan and Harry since their arrival in the neighborhood.
Longtime resident, Mary Sheldon, who owns a bookstore in the town, shared that no one sees much of the prince and his wife but they know they’re there.
“I think they’re basically ignored,” Sheldon opined, adding, “I have seen black SUVs on my road.”
Another neighbor, PR and communications worker Barry Maher, described the duke and duchess as nothing more than a “traveling soap opera.”
And another person fumed: “I still think they’re 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.”
