A neighbor of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has suggested that their life in Montecito appears to be quite solitary. This comment comes as a new documentary, Harry: The Lost Prince, is set to air in Germany in December 2024.
The documentary will examine whether Harry and Meghan have been successful in achieving “freedom” and establishing financial independence since stepping away from the royal family. Award-winning filmmaker Ulrike Grunewald, who traveled to California to gain insights from the local community where the couple lives with their children, shared her observations with The Mail. She said, “Harry and Meghan have set the bar very high. They want to be global benefactors who bring about tangible change. So far, they have not lived up to this image at all.”
Grunewald, a royal correspondent since 1987 who has reported alongside Princess Diana and Prince Charles, also remarked, “On average, the millionaires and billionaires who move here pay eight to nine million euros for a house. The cultural life is very lively, but everything often takes place in closed circles, and Harry and Meghan rarely take part in these activities. They seem to have isolated themselves a lot.”
Richard Mineards, a neighbor of the Sussexes, told Grunewald that the couple is rarely seen in town. He mentioned that they are only occasionally spotted at the local market or walking, always accompanied by security. He added, “Sometimes you will see her at the farmers’ market or with a dog, but generally, you don’t see her, and you just don’t see much of him. It’s a shame. This is a lovely place.”
Despite their seclusion, Harry and Meghan are known to maintain close friendships with high-profile figures like Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres, both of whom live in Montecito. They are also close with Tyler Perry, a California resident and godfather to their daughter, Princess Lilibet. Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, also resides nearby in Los Angeles.
Grunewald observed a shift in Harry and Meghan’s approach during the year she worked on the documentary. She noted that they began their new life in California as a strong “power duo,” but now they mostly appear separately, as their joint image has not fully materialized. She concluded, “After four years, the results are very mixed,” and expressed curiosity about whether their efforts for independence have been successful.
