Prince of sell air
Duke ‘seeks move’ Location ‘not great’
THE Duke and Duchess of Sussex want to move just 18 months after buying their £11million California mansion – because they are not “over the moon” about the property.
Prince Harry and wife Meghan bought the luxury home in Montecito – an area of Santa Barbara County known for its secluded private estates – as a place to bring up children Archie, two, and Lilibet, six months.
But they are said not to be thrilled about the ninebedroom pile, which boasts a gym, a swimming pool and a tennis court.
And they don’t like its location in the posh neighbourhood, it is claimed, despite it having almost 7.5 acres of grounds surrounded by pine and cypress trees.
A source says the couple have started making enquiries into other houses – and have let it be known they are open to private offers, should the right one come along. They claimed: “They are thinking of selling their house there.
However, it won’t be on the market because of who they are. It’s only being shown to people who are confirmed with funds and are serious buyers.”
The Sussexes are said to like Montecito itself – which is also home to chat show queens Oprah Winfrey and Ellen Degeneres, and popular with Hollywood stars like Tom Cruise – but not their current set-up.
Our source added: “They want to stay in the neighbourhood or nearby but they aren’t over the moon about the house and the location.” Harry, 37, and Meghan, 40, dumped their UK residence Frogmore Cottage, in the Windsor royal estate, for the attractions of California when they quit royal life in March 2020.
Frogmore is now being used by Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie, 31, and husband Jack Brooksbank, 35, who welcomed their first child, son August, last February.
Playground
The Sussexes bought the US property from Sergey Grishin in June 2020. The Russian businessman had purchased the home in 2009 for nearly £19m.
As well as the nine bedrooms, the home has 16 bathrooms, a tea house and a private playground.
There is also a library, an office, a spa with a dry and wet sauna, a cinema room, an arcade and games room, a wine cellar and a five-car garage. The grounds have rose gardens and a separate guest house with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
The Duchess of Sussex first gave the public a glance at their living room during a surprise appearance on America’s Got Talent. Prints believed to be gifts from Oprah were spotted on the walls. And sitting among the titles on the bookshelves was A Photographer’s Life: 1990-2005 by celebrity snapper Annie Leibovitz.
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They are not over the moon about the house
and location