After months of renting a home in Los Angeles from Tyler Perry, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have purchased their first home in California. In July, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex quietly purchased a mansion in the wealthy Montecito area of Santa Barbara County at the whopping cost of nearly $15 million. The home is located about 100 miles north of Los Angeles, in an area where many Hollywood hot shots and celebrities also own homes. Meghan and Harry snagged their abode with their own money, making the massive purchase the first home they've bought as a married couple.
While Meghan and Harry may have stepped away from royal life, they've chose to settle down in true royal style. Montecito is home to some of the wealthiest people in the entire US, and the county has been nicknamed the "American Riviera." The royals' new home cost them $14.6 million, and boasts over 7 acres of land on a gated street.
Despite the abundance of wealth in the area, it's known for being a much more laid-back and down-to-earth place to live than Los Angeles, in addition to consistently receiving a high rating for quality of life, as well as safety. Montecito itself has just 9,000 residents, giving it much more of a small town feel than the bigger cities — like London and Toronto — that Meghan and Harry are used to. Keep reading to find out just how incredible Meghan and Harry's new home and ritzy neighborhood are.
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Positively Palatial
Meghan and Harry's new digs are absolutely palatial in size. Their new mansion is 18,672 square feet, and that doesn't include the many amenities on the grounds of their new property. It might even be as large or larger than Prince William and Kate Middleton's residence at Anmer Hall in Norfolk, where they isolated with their children during the beginnings of our new normal.
All the Bedrooms
The massive home reportedly has nine bedrooms. Yes, that's nine bedrooms for a family of three, one of whom is just a tiny toddler. It's uncertain whether Harry and Meg need all the bedrooms — because they expect lots of company, or because they plan to house a staff — but it's definitely a ton of space for a small family. They might need to start churning out some more babies to fill it up.
So Many Bathrooms
The Mediterranean-style Montecito home is said to have 16 bathrooms! No one in the family will ever have to share a bathroom, and Meghan Markle will certainly have plenty of space to turn one into a glam room if she gets back into acting at some point and has to prep for red carpet appearances. With bathrooms everywhere, potty training Archie should also be a breeze.
Prime for Privacy
Meghan and Harry purchased the home off-market in June. Neither of the royal's names appear on the deed, but rather, it was sold to a trust linked to Meghan's business manager. (It was all done very hush-hush.) Harry and Meghan are notoriously private, so we would expect nothing less. From the looks of it, the sprawling property is well concealed from prying eyes.
Married to a Mortgage
The duke and duchess have been clear about their intentions to be financially independent. In keeping with that goal, it appears that while they put down a hefty down payment, they still had to take out a $9.5 million mortgage to obtain the property — which is situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains.
Spacious Guesthouse
The compound also features a guesthouse, complete with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Because Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, has lived in Los Angeles for many years — and was reportedly living with the duke and duchess after they moved to LA — we can imagine that she would get the most frequent use out of the space. It must be so nice to have grandma nearby to help out with babysitting duties.
Live From the Library
The home also has its own library, which will likely be the perfect spot for Meghan and Harry to conduct Zoom meetings and video calls for their various business and charity endeavors, as they continue to work through our new normal — especially since they likely won't be returning to England for quite some time.
Gamer Time
The home also has its own game room and arcade, which may be a great way for the busy royals to blow off some steam and spend some time bonding with their young son. (It's always nice to have a space to just chill and hangout in our own home.) Considering Meghan and Harry are watched every time they leave home, it's no wonder they'd enjoy having more diversions within their own walls.
Gym Life
The duke and duchess will also have their own private gym in their Santa Barbara home. Meghan Markle is a known to love yoga, and Harry has played sports and been fit his entire life. (We're sure they'll get good use out of their new gym.) Being able to work out at home is so convenient for everyone, especially post-2020. Plus, they won't have to worry about paparazzi capturing sweaty, unflattering photos as they leave the gym.
Poolside Palace
While the beach is never far in Montecito, we bet Meghan and Harry will be spending a lot more time in their gorgeous new outdoor pool (pictured at top), rather than at the shore. From the aerial photo, the pool's footprint looks nearly a quarter the size of the mansion itself. Even the surrounding patio is spacious and neatly hidden by privacy shrubs.
Made for Movies
The royals also have a home theater in their new abode, which should come in handy when screening some of their film projects, or for cozy, at-home date nights. The couple got engaged during a romantic date at tiny Nottingham Cottage, so their new theater room will likely be a nice upgrade to the experience.
Time for Tennis
Meghan and Harry's property also features a full-size tennis court. Meghan is a known fan of the sport who often attends major tennis events — including Wimbledon, and the US Open — and is known to be good friends with tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams. Though we've never seen Meghan play herself, many of the other royals — including Prince William, Kate Middleton, Harry and the Queen herself — have all been photographed doing so.
Playtime for Archie
Reports have also indicated that there is a built-in children's play set on the grounds of the Sussexes' new home, which should be perfect for little Archie as he grows up in Santa Barbara. They could even arrange private at-home play dates with some of their celeb friends. And when Prince William and Kate Middleton eventually visit, we're sure their children will love playing at Auntie Meghan and Uncle Harry's new home.
A Place to De-Stress
Meghan and Harry have been open advocates of mental health awareness, and thankfully for them, their new home features the perfect place for them to practice some self-care and de-stress. It has both wet and dry saunas, which are ideal for detoxing, relaxation, and even encouraging better sleep — all of which of course are important for maintaining good mental health.
Putting Down Roots
Even with so many famous neighbors — including the likes of Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres, and Ariana Grande — Meghan and Harry are hopeful they'll find a good balance of access and privacy in Montecito. "They intend to put down their roots in this house and the quiet community, which has considerable privacy. This is where they want to bring Archie up, where they hope he can have as normal a life as possible," a source told Page Six.
