Harry and Meghan to Return to UK After Six Years in Montecito

Prince Harry and Meghan are leaving California for the UK, drawing mixed reactions from Montecito neighbors and reigniting questions about.

Prince Harry and Meghan are returning to the United Kingdom after six years in California, according to CBS News. The Guardian reports that the couple plans to leave the coastal community of Montecito, where they have lived since stepping back from royal duties. Yahoo Lifestyle Canada reports that their children, Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, are expected to start school in the UK from September.

The Guardian reports that the couple's next move landed like a bombshell across the pond, noting that the return was a shock even to some royal officials. In Montecito, residents reacted with a range of indifference and understanding. The town, known as a hideout for celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Ellen DeGeneres, had been thrust into the global spotlight six years ago when the couple purchased their estate there.

Community responses to the departure vary widely. According to The Guardian, one local contractor described the town as having become too rich-ified and said good riddance to the couple. Yahoo Lifestyle Canada reports that a source told the New York Post some neighbors called the couple the Grift and Griftess of Sussex, claiming they never gave back to the community. However, The Guardian also quotes residents who saw Harry walking on the beach with his children and expressed understanding about the desire to raise them near family.

According to Yahoo Lifestyle Canada, the couple's Montecito mansion is an 18,671 square foot estate worth 14.5 million dollars with nine bedrooms and 16 bathrooms. The Guardian reports that the couple may not be entirely through with Montecito, as they reportedly plan to keep their property. Yahoo Lifestyle Canada adds that a source claimed to the New York Post there have been rumblings about a possible sale, which would attract significant broker interest, though no definitive plans have been confirmed.

The family will live in a private, non-royal home base in Britain, according to Yahoo Lifestyle Canada. CBS News royal contributor Amanda Foreman is slated to discuss what the homecoming could look like. The Guardian notes that Meghan publicly chastised royal relatives for racist mistreatment and inadequate handling of media intrusion, and the couple was embroiled in a protracted legal dispute over security funding.