Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Leave Montecito Quietly as Harry Remains ‘Just as Angry’ With Royal Family

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have quietly left behind their $14 million Montecito mansion as the Sussexes begin a new chapter back in Britain — but claims surrounding Harry’s unresolved anger toward the Royal Family suggest the move may be far more complicated than a simple change of address.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly left their California home without the fanfare that might have accompanied such a major move.

According to a Montecito neighbor quoted by the Daily Mail, there were no moving trucks, farewell parties or obvious signs that the couple were preparing to leave.

“One day they were here and the next they were back in England,” the neighbor said, describing their departure as “with a whimper, not a bang.”

Harry and Meghan moved into the Montecito property in 2020 after stepping down as working members of the Royal Family and relocating to the United States.

Six years later, the couple have made the surprising decision to return to Britain with their two children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five.

Their return has already generated considerable attention, particularly because the couple’s relationship with the Royal Family remains strained.

Montecito neighbors claim the Sussexes never fully integrated

Some residents told Page Six and the Daily Mail that Harry and Meghan never appeared to become deeply involved in the Montecito community.

Author Robert Eringer, who lives in the area, said he was frequently out and about in Montecito but rarely saw the Sussexes.

“I doubt anyone would have noticed they’d left if it hadn’t been reported in the news,” he said.

Another neighbor, Susan, recalled seeing Harry riding his bicycle and Meghan driving her Range Rover, but said their interactions with the wider community appeared limited.

She also remembered trying to welcome the couple when they first moved into the neighborhood in 2020.

“I left a bottle of wine at their gate to welcome them and it was returned to me, unopened, the following day,” she said.

She added that she was unsure whether the couple ever wanted to socialize with people who were not wealthy or famous.

Not every local account was negative. Boutique owner Wendy Foster described Meghan as “very polite” and said she could understand why the family might want to return to Harry’s home country.

Foster suggested that Harry and Meghan’s royal titles carry greater significance in Britain than they do in Montecito.

Meanwhile, another local source told Page Six that some residents were delighted by the couple’s departure.

One neighbor simply responded: “Good riddance.”

The source claimed that some people in the community had become tired of what they described as the Sussexes’ sense of entitlement and alleged requests for favors connected to their titles.

The Montecito chapter appears to be closing

The couple’s departure has also coincided with signs that some of their connections to the local community have faded.

The Daily Mail reported that Godmothers, a Montecito bookstore associated with Meghan, no longer carries products from her As Ever brand or Harry’s memoir, Spare.

The Sussexes are not believed to be abandoning every property connection outside Britain, however. According to the reports, they will retain homes in both Montecito and Portugal.

Their move to Britain is also reportedly being supported by their wider network of friends and contacts.

Page Six previously reported that hedge-fund billionaire Ian Wace, a longtime friend of the Sussexes, has been helping with their return to Britain. The couple reportedly stayed on his private Scottish island, Tanera Mor, during a recent holiday.

The Sussexes are also understood to be awaiting a fresh assessment of their security arrangements after losing their automatic entitlement to armed police protection when they stepped down as working royals.

Harry reportedly still expects an apology

While the physical move back to Britain represents a major change, reports suggest Harry’s feelings toward members of his family may not have changed nearly as much.

According to the Mail on Sunday, friends who have spoken to Harry since his return were reportedly surprised to discover that he remains angry with certain members of the Royal Family.

One source claimed that Harry is still frustrated with the “men in grey suits” surrounding his father, King Charles, and still expects an apology.

The source said friends had expected Harry to return to Britain showing greater humility and contrition.

Instead, they reportedly found that his position remained remarkably similar to the one he held when he left Britain in 2020.

“He is still in that Oprah mindset,” the source claimed.

Harry has previously spoken publicly about his desire for accountability and an apology to Meghan.

During a 2023 interview, he said that what he wanted was “some accountability” and an apology to his wife.

His relationship with the Royal Family became even more strained following his memoir Spare, as well as interviews in which he discussed private family matters.

Harry has also repeatedly accused royal aides of interfering with his relationship with his father, using language that has drawn comparisons with Princess Diana’s own complaints about members of the royal establishment.

Meghan could join Harry at Diana Award event

Harry’s return to Britain could soon bring him into the spotlight at an event closely connected to his late mother.

The Duke of Sussex is expected to attend a Diana Award dinner and awards ceremony on September 18, according to sources cited by the Mail on Sunday.

Meghan is reportedly considering joining him.

If she attends, it would mark a particularly symbolic appearance because The Diana Award is one of the remaining formal charitable links between Harry and his brother, Prince William.

William appeared on behalf of the organization earlier this summer.

Sources suggested that Harry is expected to take the lead at the September event, with the brothers unlikely to appear together — particularly if Meghan attends.

The event is reportedly expected to take place at Raffles London at The OWO, although the charity itself stressed that no plans have yet been finalized.

A spokesperson for The Diana Award said the organization is still considering how it might mark the 30th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death next year.

“No plans have been agreed, no event has been confirmed, and no decisions have been made regarding attendance or participation,” the spokesperson said.

A new life in Britain, but old tensions remain

Harry and Meghan’s return to Britain represents one of the most striking developments in their post-royal lives.

The couple left the country in 2020 seeking greater independence and privacy in the United States. Now, six years later, they are bringing their children back to Britain and establishing a new private life there.

But the reports surrounding Harry’s state of mind suggest that returning home does not necessarily mean returning to the relationships he left behind.

The Sussexes may have changed countries, homes and routines, but the disputes that contributed to their departure remain part of their story.

For Harry, the question of accountability and an apology appears to remain unresolved.

And with Meghan potentially joining him at an event honoring Princess Diana, the Sussexes’ return to Britain could place them once again at the center of attention surrounding the Royal Family.