Rob Lowe Shares What It’s Like Having Harry And Meghan as Neighbors in Montecito: ‘Never Going to...'

Five years ago, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle traded the pomp and circumstance of royal life in the UK for a quieter existence on the Left Coast. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who stepped down as senior royals in 2020, settled in California, purchasing a lavish $14 million mansion in Montecito to raise their family. The famous neighborhood is home to many other Hollywood A-listers, including actor Rob Lowe. When asked about being neighbors with the Sussexes, Lowe gave a blunt response that hinted he wasn’t very thrilled with their presence there.

In a 2021 interview with E! News, Lowe opened up about the downsides of having royalty move into his neighborhood. He said, "They definitely have brought a lot of attention to my sleepy little town. Let me tell you something: Once the royals move into your neighborhood, the neighborhood is never going to be the same." The A-lister continued, "When Oprah moved in, that began the sort of resurgence of Montecito. Now that the royals are here: The good news is property values go up, the bad news is the line is longer at Starbucks." When asked if he encountered the Sussexes in the neighborhood, he replied, "I saw Harry once driving." 

Further in the interview, co-host Kym Whitley quizzed Lowe on the rumors that Harry and Markle's infamous 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview was filmed at his house. Lowe replied, "Everybody thinks the interview is shot at my house, and then my friend Ted Sarandos, who runs Netflix, everybody thought they shot it at his house. Here's my thing, and I have no idea: I think they just plain old shot it at Oprah's. I swear to you, and they just said it was a mystery location."

While the location remains a secret, the Sussexes’ plush 19,000-square-foot Mediterranean-style mansion with nine bedrooms and 16 bathrooms has enough space to host the veteran host for an interview. It also features sprawling gardens, manicured hedges, and cypress and olive trees, while the interior boasts a library, gym, home cinema, and an arcade.

Interestingly, Lowe isn't the only A-lister who opened up about sharing his neighborhood with royalty. In an interview with Us Weekly, NFL star Troy Aikman once said that he spends part of his summers in Montecito, near the residence of the Sussexes. He revealed, "But they are there, from what I can gather. I think anyone with a heartbeat knows that they’re out there. But I’m not hanging with them." The NFL legend, who's the founder of EIGHT Elite Light Beer, was asked if he would invite the Sussuxes for some drinks over the summer. He quipped, "I don’t think they’re drinking much light beer."

Harry and Markle are often seen mingling with other Hollywood A-listers in Montecito. According to HELLO!, the Duchess frequently socializes with stars like Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, and Oprah Winfrey, all fellow residents. Meanwhile, the Duke is said to enjoy spending time with producer David Foster and his wife, Katherine McPhee. They also maintained a good relationship with talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who has since moved out of the area.