Prince Harry and Meghan Markle departed California for the U.K. this week, leaving behind their Montecito home where they had lived since 2020.

The couple's neighbors in the ultrawealthy enclave reacted with indifference to their departure. "They wave. They drive. They close the gates," one neighbor commented, reflecting the generally unbothered attitude of the local community.

Harry and Meghan moved to Montecito after stepping back from their royal duties in 2020. Their arrival in the exclusive neighborhood initially generated significant media attention and curiosity among residents.

The couple purchased a $14.7 million estate in Montecito, seeking privacy and distance from the intense scrutiny they faced in the U.K. During their time there, they maintained a relatively low profile, occasionally greeting neighbors with waves as they came and went.

Local residents appeared to have grown accustomed to the celebrity presence, treating the royals' comings and goings as routine rather than newsworthy events.

Their return to the U.K. marks another chapter in their ongoing transition away from royal life, though it remains unclear whether this visit will be temporary or more permanent.