Prince Harry and Meghan Markle just bought their first house. Here's what it's like to live in Santa Barbara County, their new home in California.

Hillary HoffowerAug 14, 2020, 00:59 IST

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle just bought their first home.Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have purchased their first home together, a spokesperson for the couple confirmed to Insider's Mikhaila Frail.
The house is in California's Santa Barbara County. They were reportedly previously living in Tyler Perry's mansion in Los Angeles.
Despite being one of the wealthiest places to live in the US, Santa Barbara is more laidback and reclusive than LA.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are officially homeowners.

They purchased their first home together in California's Santa Barbara County over the summer, a spokesperson for the couple confirmed to Insider's Mikhaila Frail.

"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved into their family home in July of this year," the spokesperson said in a statement. "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."

Meghan and Harry were reportedly previously living in Tyler Perry's eight-bedroom, 12-bathroom mansion in Beverly Hills. Santa Barbara, a 90-minute drive northwest from Los Angeles, is one of the wealthiest communities to live in, attracting the rich and famous from both California and nationwide.

But despite its wealth, the community is a lot more down-to-earth and less flashy than LA. It also offers more privacy.

Here's what it's like to live there, and why the wealthy couple might've chosen it as their new homebase in the US.

Santa Barbara County is located about an hour-and-a-half northeast of Los Angeles by car, on the central California coast.

Google Maps

Its 3,800 square miles include four offshore islands and five key places: Santa Barbara, Goleta, Montecito, Summerland, and Carpinteria.

Santa Barbara. iStock / Dima_Rogozhin

The county's namesake city, Santa Barbara, ranked in the top 10 of several US News & Ranking places to live lists, including No. 6 in the most expensive places to live category.

Santa Barbara. Youtube/MamaOT

The county's namesake city, Santa Barbara, ranked in the top 10 of several US News & Ranking places to live lists, including No. 6 in the most expensive places to live category.

But sandwiched between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, the whole county has attracted the American glitterati. It's been nicknamed the "American Riviera," a "playground for the rich and famous."

Santa Barbara. REUTERS

But sandwiched between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, the whole county has attracted the American glitterati. It's been nicknamed the "American Riviera," a "playground for the rich and famous."

Its status as a celebrity hot spot dates back to the 1800s, when the global elite vacationed there. Filmmaker and actor Charlie Chaplin upped its fame when marrying Oona O'Neil there in 1928.

Screenshot from the movie 'Charlie Chaplin Festival' (1938). Public Domain Full Movies/YouTube

Its status as a celebrity hot spot dates back to the 1800s, when the global elite vacationed there. Filmmaker and actor Charlie Chaplin upped its fame when marrying Oona O'Neil there in 1928.

Today, it's one of the wealthiest communities in the US. Homes typically sell between $2 million and $20 million, but some exceed more than $100 million.

Santa Barbara. Jordan Siemens/Getty Images

The homes, often designed in Mediterranean or Colonial Revival architectural style, sit up in the hillside or at the ocean's doorstep — and celebs are known for snatching them up.

Montecito. Mitch Diamond/Getty Images

The homes, often designed in Mediterranean or Colonial Revival architectural style, sit up in the hillside or at the ocean's doorstep — and celebs are known for snatching them up.

Kevin Costner, George Lucas, and Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have all scooped up homes in Carpinteria, an eclectic and artsy area with a small-town vibe.

Carpinteria. Karol Franks/Getty Images

And Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia-Louis Dreyfus, Oprah Winfrey, and Jeff Bridges all own homes in Montecito. So does Ellen DeGeneres, who seems to be friendly with the couple, considering she's already held baby Archie.

Montecito. nik wheeler/Getty Images

And Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia-Louis Dreyfus, Oprah Winfrey, and Jeff Bridges all own homes in Montecito. So does Ellen DeGeneres, who seems to be friendly with the couple, considering she's already held baby Archie.

Montecito is the county's most luxe enclave. The Financial Times' Zoe Dare Hall called it "a beautiful bubble of wealth with an old world charm." It's been compared to Southern France and Tuscany.

Montecito. Blaine Harrington III/Getty Images

Montecito is the county's most luxe enclave. The Financial Times' Zoe Dare Hall called it "a beautiful bubble of wealth with an old world charm." It's been compared to Southern France and Tuscany.

But it's not just Hollywood stars that flock to the area. It also attracts tech titans, thanks to its five-hour drive from Silicon Valley, and the east coast and Midwest elite.

Santa Barbara beach houses. Sahani Photography/Shutterstock

But it's not just Hollywood stars that flock to the area. It also attracts tech titans, thanks to its five-hour drive from Silicon Valley, and the east coast and Midwest elite.

Meghan and Harry's arrival now adds royals to the noteworthy list of Santa Barbara residents.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit Redwoods Tree Walk on October 31, 2018 in Rotorua, New Zealand. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on the final day of their official 16-day Autumn tour visiting cities in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand. ( Kirsty Wigglesworth - Pool/Getty Images

"They intend to put down their roots in this house and the quiet community, which has considerable privacy," a source told Page Six. "This is where they want to bring Archie up, where they hope he can have as normal a life as possible."

Chris Allerton/Getty Images

"They intend to put down their roots in this house and the quiet community, which has considerable privacy," a source told Page Six. "This is where they want to bring Archie up, where they hope he can have as normal a life as possible."

It's likely that they're attracted to the sense of recluse in Santa Barbara County that busy Los Angeles lacks, especially since they were having privacy issues while living in LA.

Downtown Santa Barbara. Mitch Diamond/Getty Images

It's likely that they're attracted to the sense of recluse in Santa Barbara County that busy Los Angeles lacks, especially since they were having privacy issues while living in LA.

The scene here is also more laidback. Santa Barbara may be wealthy, but one resident said money doesn't define its character and that it's a lot less flashy than Los Angeles.

Stearns Wharf at Santa Barbara Harbor. Ron and Patty Thomas/Getty Images

The scene here is also more laidback. Santa Barbara may be wealthy, but one resident said money doesn't define its character and that it's a lot less flashy than Los Angeles.

There are still plenty of luxuries, like trendy boutiques, a strong gastronomic scene, and yoga studios. And Santa Barbara is rich in culture, from art galleries to museums.

Downtown Santa Barbara. George Rose/Getty Images

There are still plenty of luxuries, like trendy boutiques, a strong gastronomic scene, and yoga studios. And Santa Barbara is rich in culture, from art galleries to museums.

There's also the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club — a bonus for Harry, who's a recreational polo player.

Prince William at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club. Steve Granitz/Getty Images

And of course, there are the perks that draw most residents to Santa Barbara County, like the Mediterranean weather, stretches of coastline, and wine country — a plus for Meghan, who is a wine drinker.

Santa Barbara vineyard. aalorber (Adam Lorber)/Getty Images

And of course, there are the perks that draw most residents to Santa Barbara County, like the Mediterranean weather, stretches of coastline, and wine country — a plus for Meghan, who is a wine drinker.

The area's proximity to both the mountains and beach also allows for plenty of outdoor excursions, whether it's hiking or surfing. And Archie reportedly loves being outside in nature.

Santa Barbara. Joseph Tointon/Getty Images

The area's proximity to both the mountains and beach also allows for plenty of outdoor excursions, whether it's hiking or surfing. And Archie reportedly loves being outside in nature.

The area is also home to top-notch schools for Archie. There's Cate School in Carpinteria, a boarding school that costs $49,700 a year, and Laguna Blanca School in Montecito, a private co-ed school that costs $29,230 annually.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with their son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor during their royal tour of South Africa on September 25, 2019. Pool/Samir Hussein via Getty Images

The area is also home to top-notch schools for Archie. There's Cate School in Carpinteria, a boarding school that costs $49,700 a year, and Laguna Blanca School in Montecito, a private co-ed school that costs $29,230 annually.

And it's always just a short drive away from Los Angeles, where the entertainment industry and Meghan's mom live.

Los Angeles. Chones/Shutterstock

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle just bought their first house. Here's what it's like to live in Santa Barbara County, their new home in California.

Santa Barbara County is located about an hour-and-a-half northeast of Los Angeles by car, on the central California coast.

Its 3,800 square miles include four offshore islands and five key places: Santa Barbara, Goleta, Montecito, Summerland, and Carpinteria.

The county's namesake city, Santa Barbara, ranked in the top 10 of several US News & Ranking places to live lists, including No. 6 in the most expensive places to live category.

But sandwiched between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, the whole county has attracted the American glitterati. It's been nicknamed the "American Riviera," a "playground for the rich and famous."

Its status as a celebrity hot spot dates back to the 1800s, when the global elite vacationed there. Filmmaker and actor Charlie Chaplin upped its fame when marrying Oona O'Neil there in 1928.

Today, it's one of the wealthiest communities in the US. Homes typically sell between $2 million and $20 million, but some exceed more than $100 million.

The homes, often designed in Mediterranean or Colonial Revival architectural style, sit up in the hillside or at the ocean's doorstep — and celebs are known for snatching them up.

Kevin Costner, George Lucas, and Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have all scooped up homes in Carpinteria, an eclectic and artsy area with a small-town vibe.

And Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia-Louis Dreyfus, Oprah Winfrey, and Jeff Bridges all own homes in Montecito. So does Ellen DeGeneres, who seems to be friendly with the couple, considering she's already held baby Archie.

Montecito is the county's most luxe enclave. The Financial Times' Zoe Dare Hall called it "a beautiful bubble of wealth with an old world charm." It's been compared to Southern France and Tuscany.

But it's not just Hollywood stars that flock to the area. It also attracts tech titans, thanks to its five-hour drive from Silicon Valley, and the east coast and Midwest elite.

Meghan and Harry's arrival now adds royals to the noteworthy list of Santa Barbara residents.

"They intend to put down their roots in this house and the quiet community, which has considerable privacy," a source told Page Six. "This is where they want to bring Archie up, where they hope he can have as normal a life as possible."

It's likely that they're attracted to the sense of recluse in Santa Barbara County that busy Los Angeles lacks, especially since they were having privacy issues while living in LA.

The scene here is also more laidback. Santa Barbara may be wealthy, but one resident said money doesn't define its character and that it's a lot less flashy than Los Angeles.

There are still plenty of luxuries, like trendy boutiques, a strong gastronomic scene, and yoga studios. And Santa Barbara is rich in culture, from art galleries to museums.

There's also the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club — a bonus for Harry, who's a recreational polo player.

And of course, there are the perks that draw most residents to Santa Barbara County, like the Mediterranean weather, stretches of coastline, and wine country — a plus for Meghan, who is a wine drinker.

The area's proximity to both the mountains and beach also allows for plenty of outdoor excursions, whether it's hiking or surfing. And Archie reportedly loves being outside in nature.

The area is also home to top-notch schools for Archie. There's Cate School in Carpinteria, a boarding school that costs $49,700 a year, and Laguna Blanca School in Montecito, a private co-ed school that costs $29,230 annually.

And it's always just a short drive away from Los Angeles, where the entertainment industry and Meghan's mom live.