Prince Harry may soon find himself at the center of Hollywood life as Meghan Markle reportedly plans to leave their quiet Montecito estate for a new home closer to Los Angeles. According to a source close to the couple, the Duchess of Sussex is eager to relocate to be nearer to the entertainment industry’s inner circle and expand her professional network.
A well-placed insider told Heart World that while Meghan has enjoyed their suburban lifestyle to some extent, she has grown tired of what she views as a “sleepy retirement community.” The couple’s sprawling mansion in Montecito, roughly 90 miles from Los Angeles, has provided them with privacy and tranquility since their move in 2020, but Meghan now appears ready for a change.
“Meghan enjoys their life in the suburbs to an extent, but it’s also gotten boring to be stuck in the equivalent of a sleepy retirement community that’s such a long way from the heart of Hollywood and where all the movers and shakers are,” the insider revealed.
“She’s restless and frustrated that so many of the people she wants to connect with aren’t nearby, and sees Montecito more as a ‘country escape’,” the source added. “She wants to be where the action is and is finding it exhausting to be shuttled around by limo for hours each day.”
The insider went on to say that Meghan is considering selling their Montecito home and purchasing property in a trendier neighborhood. “Meghan’s thinking it’s time to cash in on the home, then put down roots in a trendier, more affluent area like Brentwood or Beverly Hills, where she’ll be able to do more schmoozing and embrace this new chapter for her brand,” they explained.
Their Montecito mansion has reportedly doubled in value since the couple bought it, which has fueled Meghan’s vision of a more flexible lifestyle. “In her perfect world, they’ll buy a place in Los Angeles and one in New York so she can be bi-coastal,” the source said. “Most of the people she’s mixing with these days have that sort of setup, and it’s made her want it too.”
However, Prince Harry is reportedly less enthusiastic about the idea. “When Meghan and Harry bought their place in Montecito, they both said it was going to be their forever home,” the insider said. “It’s somewhat of a shock to Harry that she’s changed her mind and wants to sell. In his eyes, they’re already in the most ideal spot. It’s totally private and surrounded by nature.”
The source concluded, “It’s fair to say he isn’t thrilled. He loves the slower pace of life they have in Montecito, not to mention the privacy. If they move close to Los Angeles, it’s bound to mean more eyes on them, they’ll be back living in a fishbowl, and he hates that.”