Meghan and Harry renovating their brand new $14 million Montecito estate to suit their style, insider reveals
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly all set to turn their brand new Montecito, California property into a place they can call home. “Meghan’s taking time off to update some of the rooms to suit their style, including their and Archie’s bedrooms, the main living area, the kitchen, and the gym,” a source told Us Weekly in their latest issue. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly also planning to make a "special, fun place for their 15-month-old son next to their rose garden, swimming pool, and tennis courts," per the magazine. “The outdoor play area will be decked out with swings and slides, a climbing frame, and a tea area for Archie and his new little pals,” the insider continued. “Meghan’s counting the days until Archie can start interacting with children his own age.”
Furthermore, Harry allegedly wants a custom bar despite the house already having its own wine cellar. “He’s talking about building a tasteful drinking area by the pool” for when guests visit, the source added. That said, Meghan's mother and go-to babysitter Doria Ragland, 63, will also be staying at one of the guesthouses on the couple's sprawling 18,671 square-foot estate. A source told Us Weekly earlier this month that Ragland "plans to split her time between L.A. and Montecito.”
In mid-June, Meghan, 39, and Harry, 35, bought a nine-bedroom, 16-bathroom mansion in Santa Barbara, California for $14.65 million. Prior to that, the couple had been living in Los Angeles after stepping down from senior royal duties in March. “Meghan visited Montecito in her teens and fell in love with the picturesque scenery and stunning architecture,” another source told Us Weekly earlier this month. “Moving there was always an option, but to begin with, she and Harry wanted to give Los Angeles a shot. Unfortunately, Harry absolutely hated it — the timing was so wrong amid the [coronavirus] pandemic and they lacked privacy.”
Besides Ragland, the pair will also have several familiar faces in the community- especially since several A-listers live in Montecito. “They’ve already met some of their neighbors, like Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry, who are locals,” the insider revealed. “Orlando voicing Prince Harry in [the HBO Max comedy series] The Prince has become an inside joke between them. If you’re going to shadow someone, it may as well be the real deal! And there’s obviously Ellen [DeGeneres], who Meghan knows from way back.”
According to Us Weekly, their high-profile neighbors are just the kind of acquaintances they need at the moment. “Many of their new neighbors are CEOs and financiers and their families. They’re not the type of people to sell them out,” the source added. “Harry and Meghan finally feel happy, safe, and home!”
On August 11, a rep for Meghan and Harry said in a statement that the world-famous duo “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.”
