NEIGHBORS FROM HELL

Harry & Meghan:

Montecito, one of Santa Barbara County’s wealthiest neighborhoods, is home to many bold-face names, including Rob Lowe, Jennifer Aniston and Ellen DeGeneres. The area’s most famous residents may be Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Following their split from the royal family, the pair settled in to a $14.65 million estate, where they are raising their children, Archie, 3, and 16-month-old Lilibet, in an 18,671-square-foot, sevenbedroom home. Now an insider tells Star that the young family is on the move, to an even more exclusive area called Hope Ranch. “They already have another house,” says the insider. “It’s not under their names.” Residents of the gated community (pop. 15,777) might want to brace themselves. Sources tell Star that Montecito locals were less than thrilled with their royal neighbors. Right or wrong, they blame the duo, who moved to the area in 2020, for an uptick in crime — and for unfriendly behavior. “Montecito is a friendly community, it’s common courtesy to say hello to someone when you’re walking your dog,” says one local. “But Harry and Meghan cross over to the other side of the street

and keep their heads down to avoid any interaction. They’re so rude!”

SNOBBY NEIGHBORS

Prior to Harry, 38, and Meghan, 41, making their home in Montecito, where the median house costs over $3 million, the vibe among neighbors was congenial. People were friendly to one another, regularly saying hello and making small talk when out and about. The Montecito resident said the pair have been the exception to that rule as they’ve “gained a reputation as the biggest snobs in town.” Neither Harry nor Meghan made any attempt to get to know their neighbors, gripes the local. Meghan is loath to stand in line at the grocery store with other shoppers, for example, instead putting her staff to the task. Harry, for his part, will venture out to Coast Village Road to shop. “You always know it’s him because he parks that huge SUV of his over two spaces,” grouses the local. “Which just shows you how selfish he is.”

BLAME GAME

While the royals say they want a quiet life, they still have their fans, who have been visiting Montecito in droves, hoping for a glimpse of the uber-famous couple. According to the local source, this too is a major problem for the once-pristine town, as “they have turned Montecito into a trashy tourist attraction.” More seriously, the town has had to install automated license-plate readers to help fight a spate of crime. “We’ve had quite a few highvalue property crimes,” a law official said, adding that “these are professional burglars coming from out of the area.” Some locals believe that’s because Harry and Meghan put it on the map. “Five years ago, I wouldn’t have thought twice about leaving my front door unlocked,” says the local. “Not anymore.” ★