SHOCK: Harry and Meghan have been slapped in face after latest takedown – no way back
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have only been back in Britain for a matter of weeks, but fresh claims from their former California neighbours have added another uncomfortable chapter to their high-profile return.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex relocated to the UK last month with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet after spending six years in California.
Yet an opinion piece by Eleanor Burleigh has argued that the couple now find themselves in an awkward position, facing criticism linked to their former life in Montecito while also remaining firmly outside the working Royal Family in Britain.
Several people connected to the Sussexes’ former neighbourhood have recently spoken about the couple, although many of the claims remain personal opinions or come from unnamed sources rather than independently established facts.
Designer Penny Bianchi told The Sun that Harry and Meghan were “not popular” locally and suggested Archie had been removed from school with little warning before the family’s transatlantic move.
Former Beach Boys member Bruce Johnston, who lives near the Sussexes’ reported $14.65 million Montecito property, also commented on Harry’s departure.
He said “no one knows” exactly why the Duke returned to Britain before offering his own speculative explanation involving Harry’s strained relationship with Prince William.
Claims Sussexes Never Settled Into Montecito
Other unnamed sources have claimed Harry and Meghan never fully integrated into their California community.
According to those reports, the couple preferred socialising with wealthy or famous figures rather than becoming involved with neighbours more broadly.
There is no independent confirmation of those characterisations, and they represent the accounts of individuals speaking about the Sussexes rather than an established description of the couple’s private life.
However, the claims have resurfaced at an awkward moment.
Harry and Meghan originally established their life in California after stepping away from senior royal duties in 2020, making Montecito the centre of their family life for several years.
They are reportedly keeping their California property despite relocating to Britain “for some time”.
The family’s chickens are also said to remain at the Montecito home while Archie and Lilibet settle into new schools and routines in the UK.
Britain Has Brought New Challenges
The Sussexes’ situation in Britain is considerably clearer when it comes to their official royal position.
King Charles recently issued guidance confirming that their move back to the UK does not mean they are returning as working royals.
Harry and Meghan remain private individuals in an official capacity and will not resume royal duties.
That distinction has already caused tension, with reports suggesting the Sussex camp was unhappy about how the guidance was communicated.
Their return therefore has not resulted in the kind of formal reconciliation with royal life that some observers had speculated might follow.
At the same time, reports have suggested Meghan is finding the adjustment back to Britain difficult.
She has been described by unnamed sources as feeling “very homesick” and “isolated”, with less freedom to carry out ordinary activities without attracting attention.
Those claims have not been publicly confirmed by Meghan herself.
The article argues that this leaves the Duchess facing a difficult contrast between her former life in California and her current circumstances in Britain.
Sussexes Caught Between Two Lives
Harry and Meghan’s decision to retain their Montecito home could give them the option of spending more time in the United States again in future.
But the opinion piece suggests such a move could be portrayed by critics as evidence that their British return had failed.
That conclusion is the writer’s interpretation rather than a confirmed plan or assessment from the Sussexes themselves.
For now, Harry and Meghan appear committed to allowing Archie and Lilibet time to establish themselves in Britain while the couple build a new routine outside official royal life.
But the latest comments from California, combined with the Palace’s firm stance over their status, have ensured their return is proving anything but straightforward.
After six years building a new life across the Atlantic, the Sussexes now find themselves facing scrutiny on both sides of it.
