Just 18 months after moving into their stunning mansion, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are looking to up sticks according to The Mirror. Reports suggest that the family are 'not over the moon' with the sprawling estate and have concerns over their privacy. It was the location of their latest family photoshoot with Alexi Lubomirski, which showed the couple having fun with Archie, two, and Lilli, seven months.
Reportedly, the Sussexes say they like Montecito, which is home to a whole host of Hollywood stars including the Kardashians, but are not fans of the house and its location. According to the reports, the couple has already started making enquiries into other houses but are looking for a private offer from a serious buyer rather than putting it on the open market. Let's take a look around the stunning home...
Harry and Meghan's stunning house is only a six-minute drive from Oprah's Promised Land estate. In mid-June 2020, the couple purchased the multimillion-dollar estate in Santa Barbara County for $14.7 million and public documents reveal that the couple secured a $9.5 million mortgage for the deal.
The luxurious house was sold to them by Russian businessman Sergey Grishin, who bought the home in 2009 for $25.3 million. A stone's throw from the ocean, the laid-back neighborhood of Montecito is packed with A-listers, including Ellen DeGeneres, Kevin Costner and former Oprah guest, Tom Cruise. It is also just a two-hour drive from downtown Los Angeles and Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland.
Built in 2003, it offers a grand total of nine bedrooms and 19 bathrooms. The country-style master suite features a wooden-beamed ceiling, an ensuite bathroom and access to a private balcony with an ivy-covered pergola.
Jam-packed with the most luxurious amenities, the home includes a library, gym, a sauna, home cinema, arcade, games room and a lift. Boasting wood-paneled walls and a huge TV, the regal entertainment space is a great spot for the young family to relax together.
Around the time of her 40th birthday celebrations in August 2021, Meghan gave us a look into her home office. Alongside actress Melissa McCarthy, the Duchess of Sussex released a video announcing her new 40x40 initiative on the Archewell website. In the clip, which was filmed inside the couple's stunning Montecito mansion, Meghan is sitting in front of a cozy fireplace behind a large wooden desk. Giving a glimpse into the star's very neutral taste, the desk is decorated with a quartz crystal, a tea tray, and framed family photos which are just out of shot. There are also luxury details aplenty with a Hermes throw and a plush dog bed for Meghan's beagle, Guy.
It's not only Meghan that's given a glimpse into the couple's home life. In May 2021, Prince Harry released a trailer for his new series The Me You Can't See, which sees him filming his own therapy sessions and chatting with their good friend, Oprah. Meghan appears briefly alongside her husband in a corner of their shared home office, which reveals only paneled walls, black-framed windows and part of the huge stone fireplace.
Ideal for keeping two-year-old Archie amused, the extensive property also has a tea house and a children's cottage, as well as this elaborate play area that sits within the mansion's beautifully manicured grounds. Lili is going to love playing with her big brother here when she grows up!
The incredible backyard features a tiered rose garden, an alfresco terrace and a large swimming pool, flanked by picturesque olive trees and Italian cypress trees. A full-size tennis court and a detached guesthouse are also found across the estate, ideal for hosting family and friends, including Meghan's mother, Doria.
After leaving their royal duties behind, California was set to be a safe haven for the young family. Last year, a spokesperson for the couple told The Independent: “They have settled into the quiet privacy of their community since their arrival and hope that this will be respected for their neighbors, as well as for them as a family.” Yet, according to information obtained in April 2021 by the British PA news agency, police were called to the couple's home nine times over nine months. Realtor reported that while the property is gated, the community is not, so perhaps security is the driving force behind the private couple's move?
Named by Time Magazine as one of the world's 100 most influential people, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – or Harry and Meghan, as the world knows them – have had a rocky road to finding their perfect family home. From their early days at Frogmore Cottage to their secret Canadian hideaway, we take a look back at their real estate journey.
Harry and Meghan Markle - as she was then known - announced their engagement in the Sunken Gardens of Kensington Palace in November 2017. It was a favorite spot of Princess Diana's and the pair had already been spending plenty of time at the palace estate, where Harry lived in Nottingham Cottage. It was at Nottingham Cottage, previously the home of Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, where Harry popped the question. A refreshingly relaxed proposal, it happened while Harry was cooking a roast chicken during a cozy night in. The couple continued to live in Harry's quarters in Kensington Palace until they got married.
The couple gave a glimpse inside their home during their engagement interview, which was held in a living space inside the cottage. Sitting on a cream sofa, it's clear to see the calming neutral color scheme of the home, with a white paneled wall in the background and an elegant gold lamp.
On 19 May 2018, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were married in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, where they were given the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The newly married couple had the ultimate royal wedding venue, with pictures taken in the beautiful Green Drawing Room and two receptions in St George's Hall and the Frogmore Estate.
The queen had an incredible wedding gift waiting for the royal couple on their wedding day. After gifting Prince William and Kate Middleton Anmer Hall on the Sandringham Estate, the Queen decided to bestow Frogmore Cottage upon Meghan and Harry, which would become their permanent home in the UK.
Home to many royals over the centuries and later divided into five properties, it was converted back into a large family home for Meghan and Harry at a reported cost of $3 million in 2019, an amount the couple have since repaid. They moved into Frogmore Cottage in April 2019 and it remains their official UK residence today, although according to Hello! magazine Harry and Meghan allowed Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank to move in with baby August Philip Hawke Brooksbank in 2020 while they are in the States. Although, reportedly they moved out after just six weeks.
In late November 2019, the new family spent six weeks in Canada for an extended Christmas break following their tour of South Africa. They soaked up the beauty of Vancouver Island in this $14 million holiday home. The impressive waterfront mansion in North Saanich, owned by a mystery multimillionaire, is located in one of the most picturesque parts of the large isle.
The dream island home comprises an array of opulent bedrooms, with access to two beautiful beaches with stunning views across the peninsula. The main house sprawls across 11,416 square feet and includes five bedrooms and eight bathrooms, a smaller 2,349-square-foot guest house accommodates the other three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Step inside the main house and you’ll find a spacious two-story open living area, formal dining room, a wood-paneled office with a cozy fireplace and a chef’s kitchen with its own pizza oven. The property also includes a games room with a wet bar, a wine-tasting room and a media room.
The four-acre luxury gated property has its own stunning summer house and several acres of gorgeous gardens, so we can see why the couple chose this as their home for the holidays. To top it off, the amazing Canadian mansion overlooks the tranquil water below, making it the perfect scenic escape from the pair's busy lives in England.
Deciding not to head home for Christmas with the Queen and the rest of the royal family, the couple released this image of Harry and Archie spending time together on a stunning lakefront in Canada on their official Sussex Royal Instagram account. In January 2020, they announced they were stepping back as senior royals to become financially independent, revealing their plans to split their time between the UK and North America.
After their last official day as working royals on 31 March 2020, it was reported that the couple had relocated to Los Angeles. They decided to stay in a huge compound owned by actor and producer Tyler Perry, who they reportedly met through mutual friend Oprah. Tucked away in the Beverly Hills Post Office area of Los Angeles, the luxury mansion sits in the gated community of Beverly Ridge Estates.
The perfect place to stay with Archie while they hunted for a more permanent home, Meghan can be seen here reading him a story in one of the many gorgeous living areas. Just a few months later, they found their current house where they will raise Archie and Lili.
Having gone through some huge life changes including a relocation stateside, we can't wait to see what's next for Harry and Meghan and their growing family!
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