The news that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were considering selling their $14.65 million Montecito home in exchange for a residence inside the ultra-exclusive Santa Barbara community of Hope Ranch is claimed to have sparked some commotion in one of California’s most affluent neighborhoods.

The relocation speculations are said to have shocked the neighborhood’s residents, who are said to be worried that the Sussexes’ move would create a “media circus” that Hope Ranch’s elite group of residents is eager to avoid.

While Harry and Meghan already have a long list of famous neighbors close by, moving to the Santa Barbara neighborhood would undoubtedly open up a world of well-connected new acquaintances. Current residents there include Ron Ely from Tarzan and musician Snoop Dogg.

The wealthy neighborhood also has an abundance of opulent amenities, such as a country club, golf course, tennis court, equestrian trails, and its own private beach.

However, according to TMZ, many Hope Ranch residents are opposed to the couple relocating because they are ‘worried’ that Harry, 38, and Meghan, 41, would bring a ‘circus’ to the neighborhood.

According to sources close to the Hope Ranch Homeowners Association, the community’s residents are worried about Meghan and Harry’s rumored move because of the “baggage” they’ll bring.

Despite claims to the contrary, many in Hope Ranch believe the Sussexes will bring a circus to their tranquil, ultra-private neighborhood because of their notoriety and controversy. That can offer extremely real-world issues, according to our sources.

The presence of unwelcome photographers seeking to catch sight of the royals and increased traffic, especially given the area’s “small and twisting” roads, are two concerns of the locals.

It continued, “Traffic has always been a problem in Santa Barbara, where residents have struggled for decades to preserve their community from an onslaught of cars.”

Some locals worry that the influx of would-be photographers trying to capture the Royals could put people in danger, especially young children who are playing and walking to school.

Given that so many celebrities already call the area home, locals should be accustomed to seeing renowned faces everywhere.

The erstwhile royal couple emigrated to the US in 2020, buying a $14.65 million property in Montecito, California, where they now live with their two children, Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1.

After experiencing many break-ins at their house, the family is reportedly now considering moving to Hope Ranch, a neighborhood in the Santa Barbara, California, suburb with a population of about 2,200.

The couple reportedly experienced a scare in May when police received a report of two burglars at their home over the course of a 12-day period.

On May 19, the couple’s wedding anniversary, at 5:44 p.m., a trespasser at their residence was reported to the police, according to documents.

A second intruder was discovered less than two weeks later, at 3:21 PM on May 31, just hours before the couple was scheduled to board a private plane to travel to Britain for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Now, it’s been stated that the couple wants to move roughly 10 miles away to the more secluded Hope Ranch.

The most famous former inhabitants of Hope Ranch, including American musician Snoop Dogg and actor and writer Ron Ely, whose wife was fatally murdered by their son inside their Hope Ranch home, have been revealed by FEMAIL as Harry and Meghan are encouraged not to relocate there.

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