Prince Harry and Meghan Markle dubbed ‘laughing stock’ as neighbours ‘poke fun’ at them

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at the centre of discussions among their neighbours in Montecito, California.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex live in Montecito, California (Image: Getty)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been made a “laughing stock” among their neighbours in Montecito, California, it has been claimed. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been residing in their glitzy home in Santa Barbara, California, after leaving the Royal Family in 2020 and moving to the US.

Since then, they have settled in their luxury mansion, where they live with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. But according to reports, their neighbours have been “poking fun” at them after not touching the mansion’s “outdated” style.

The Chateau of Riven Rock is located within the historic Riven Rock neighbourhood and boasts a French Provençal-style

The Sussexes’ lavish villa has been at the centre of discussions (Image: Getty)

It was built in 2003 and designed by Terry Cunningham on land that was part of the original McCormick family estate in the 1890s.

The Sussexes reportedly paid around £10million to purchase the property in 2020.

But according to those who live close to them, they haven’t done much to modernise the property.

Journalist Tom Sykes said on his Royalist podcast: “I was in New York last week, and I was meeting with somebody who lives fairly near them, and they said to me that the house that they occupy in Montecito is like a sort of laughing stock.”

He added: “It’s kind of shameful because, of course, in America, if you’re a billionaire and you buy a house for $14million, I mean, what’s the first thing you do? Knock it down, you know, or at the very least remodel it, you know?”

Mr Sykes said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are allegedly still “padding around in a kitchen that looks straight out of the Olive Garden”.

Harry and Meghan’s Montecito luxury abode boasts a total of five acres of land, featuring nine bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, a pool and a tennis court, as well as extensive gardens and its own chicken coop, which the couple have named “Archie’s Chick Inn”.

It also features a five-car garage, a guesthouse, a spa, a wine cellar, a gym, a library and a tea house, among other luxury amenities.

The Sussex couple have shared rare glimpses of their home in their Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan, as well as on social media.