Prince Harry and Meghan Face Harsh Montecito Send-Off as Some Neighbours Say ‘Good Riddance’ Ahead of UK Return

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s reported return to Britain has triggered a striking reaction thousands of miles away in Montecito, where some residents have responded to news of the couple’s departure with blunt criticism — including one local who declared: “Good riddance.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are preparing to return to the UK at the end of August, six years after leaving royal duties behind and building a new life in California. Their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, are expected to attend school in Britain. The family has also reportedly secured a private, non-royal residence for their return.

But as attention turns to what awaits the Sussexes in Britain, reports from their affluent Californian neighbourhood have revealed that some locals are not particularly disappointed to see them go.

‘Good riddance’: Some Montecito locals deliver brutal verdict

The Sussexes settled in Montecito after leaving the UK, joining a community famous for attracting wealthy and high-profile residents.

Yet interviews conducted by The Sun suggest their relationship with at least some people in the area has been far from warm.

Shop workers, dog walkers and residents interviewed by the newspaper criticised Harry and Meghan’s presence in the community, with some accusing the couple of isolating themselves and attracting unnecessary attention.

One store employee was particularly direct about the news of their departure, saying she was glad they were leaving and adding: “Good riddance.”

Another criticism centred on the couple’s security arrangements. One local claimed Harry and Meghan stood out because of the bodyguards accompanying them, contrasting their approach with other famous residents who reportedly move around the area more casually.

These comments represent the opinions of individual residents interviewed by the newspaper and should not be taken as reflecting the views of Montecito as a whole.

Meghan branded a ‘laughing stock’ by one former local worker

Among the harshest criticism came from a woman named Jennifer, who said she previously worked at a Montecito store visited by Meghan.

Jennifer alleged that Meghan had borrowed ideas and aesthetics from other people for her projects, and claimed this had damaged the Duchess’s standing among some locals.

She described Meghan as having become a “laughing stock” locally, although she also struck a more sympathetic note when discussing the couple’s future, saying she hoped they would find happiness.

The claims about Meghan’s creative work are allegations from the resident and have not been independently established.

Another worker criticised Meghan for mentioning Butterfly Beach in her lifestyle programme, claiming the publicity contributed to the popular local spot becoming busier.

Again, the criticism provides a snapshot of individual reactions rather than evidence of a community-wide consensus.

Not everyone understands why they are leaving

The reaction in Montecito has not been universally hostile.

Mary Sheldon, owner of the Tecolote Book Shop and a lifelong Montecito resident, expressed confusion about why Harry and Meghan would want to leave an area that offers the privacy, climate and amenities that initially appeared to attract them.

The Sussexes have lived in their large Montecito property since relocating to California. Despite their impending return to Britain, reports indicate that they intend to retain their California home rather than sever their ties with the United States completely.

That distinction is significant because their return to the UK does not necessarily represent a complete abandonment of their American life.

Archie and Lilibet prepare for a very different life

The biggest practical change will involve Archie and Lilibet.

The children have spent most or all of their lives in California, but reports say they are now enrolled in British schools ahead of the new academic year.

Harry and Meghan are expected back in Britain at the end of August, allowing the family to settle before school begins.

Their return will also put Archie and Lilibet geographically much closer to King Charles and other members of their extended family.

Charles was reportedly informed of the Sussexes’ decision only days before it became public. Despite the short notice, the King is understood to welcome the prospect of spending more private time with Harry and his grandchildren.

Returning to Britain does not mean returning to royal duties

Despite the dramatic nature of the move, one important element is expected to remain unchanged.

Harry and Meghan will not return as working royals.

They are expected to live in a privately arranged residence rather than a royal property and continue pursuing their own commercial and charitable projects. The “half-in, half-out” arrangement originally discussed around the time of Megxit is not being revived.

The couple are also expected to retain their Montecito property, meaning their connections to California will continue even as Britain becomes a much larger part of their family life again.

From California departure to a complicated British homecoming

The Sussexes’ decision represents one of the most significant changes to their lives since they stepped away from royal duties in 2020.

For Harry, it means returning to the country where he spent most of his life but where several family relationships remain deeply strained. For Meghan, it means establishing a home again in Britain after years of building her professional and personal life in California.

And for Archie and Lilibet, the move means entering an entirely different school system and living much closer to their royal relatives.

The hostile remarks emerging from some Montecito residents add another unexpected dimension to that transition. Yet descriptions such as “laughing stock” and “good riddance” remain the opinions of particular people interviewed locally — not an established verdict from the wider community.

Harry and Meghan may therefore be leaving behind a neighbourhood where their presence divided opinion, but their return to Britain is unlikely to escape scrutiny either.

Six years after Megxit, the Sussexes are heading back to the country they dramatically left — only this time, they return as private individuals rather than working members of the monarchy.