Meghan Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, recently purchased a multi-million dollar mansion in Montecito, Santa Barbara.
The royal couple decided to leave Los Angeles for a private area to give their son, Archie, a fair chance at having a normal and peaceful childhood where he can have friends and playdates.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and his wife, who could be pregnant with royal baby number two, opted for Montecito’s community because their privacy was invaded several times by paparazzi using drones and helicopters while living in Beverly Hills.
A spokesperson had previously stated: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved into their family home in July of this year. 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 them for a family.”
It has also been revealed that Harry had his heart set on a more cozy home to raise and grow his family. The royal insider shared: “Harry loves California, but they were both drawn to the smaller town of Santa Barbara, where they can integrate into the community while having some distance and privacy that is hard to come by in the Los Angeles area. For that reason, they had never intended to stay in Los Angeles.”
Official records revealed that Harry and the former actress purchased the stunning 14,500-square-foot home for a whopping $14.65 million.
The power couple, who has been breaking the bank with paid speeches, decided to take out a $9.5 million mortgage because they had promised each other and the British people that they would become self-sufficient.
Prince Charles, who used to be the couple’s cash cow, was not consulted for the massive purchase. Since exiting the royal family, Prince Harry has stopped depending on his father for money.
A royal source told Us Weekly: “Harry could’ve asked [Prince] Charles to contribute toward the cost of the house, but he chose not to… Getting his dad financially involved would result in the royals having control over him. It would mean going backwards.”
It was also revealed that Harry is loving being financially independent. The insider also explained: “They paid out of their own pockets [and] have taken out a huge mortgage. Prince Harry, he is reportedly loving being independent and sees it as an opportunity to grow.”
Prince Harry and Meghan are planning to let Archie choose his relationship with the British Royal Family when he gets older.
