Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: Take a look at their bomb new house
After over a year of house hunting, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle settled on a place. While transitioning from royal life in the UK to a less traditionalist life stateside, the royal couple searched for a house for over a year while staying in Tyler Perry’s guest house.
Oprah Winfrey and other celebrities pointed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to a cozy neighborhood in Montecito where they found the Chateau of Riven Rock. While they were initially tight-lipped about which house they were moving to, they’ve revealed more details about their lavish house.
A quiet place to live
According to the listing in the LA Times, the Chateau of Riven Rock (which sounds like a castle in Game of Thrones) sits on 7.3 acres and has an impressive square footage of over 18,000. The listing describes the mansion as being at the end of a scenic drive lined with cypress trees.
The Italian villa-style of the chateau isn’t the only thing going for it. The Chateau of Riven Rock also boasts a swimming pool, tennis court, wine cellar, and a ton of other amenities including a guest house, tea house, and more.
The big draw for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wasn’t just the cushy amenities. The big draw for this previously high-profile royal couple is privacy. The neighborhood in Montecito is quiet, low-key, and surrounded by some great natural sites. The chateau boasts wonderful views of the coastline with hiking trails nearby.
A “granny annex” for Doria Ragland
It’s no secret that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle want to move Meghan Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, close to them. The chateau comes with a 2-bedroom guest house that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are renovating for her to move in.
They plan on having the house ready for Doria Ragland to move in after COVID lockdowns are lifted in California. Ragland will also split her time at the guest house with her time in Los Angeles.
A play area for Archie
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle look forward to watching their son, Archie, grow in their new home. The nine-bedroom chateau has a play area for Archie and a play structure outside that he’ll be climbing soon.
The royal couple is excited to watch Archie grow and provide him with a normal life. A source close to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle told People Magazine: “They’re excited to be there and to become part of the community. It’s a really happy time for them as a family.”
Not all the neighbors are celebs
A reason why Meghan Markle and Prince Harry picked the chateau was that many of their neighbors aren’t famous. While celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres live nearby, many of their neighbors are financiers and executives who live out of the limelight.
A bleak past
The place isn’t all roses, though. The Sussexes bought the Chateau of Riven Rock at a bargain, reportedly for $14 million versus the $34 million it originally went for. For a house located near Oprah Winfrey, that’s a steal. So what’s the catch?
Apparently, the Chateau is in a place that’s in danger of earthquakes, rock slides, and fires. Meaning, it’s in California? However, the house’s previous owners allegedly had a history of domestic violence. Despite the bleak past, Prince Harry and Megan Markle feel “at peace” in their new home.
According to inside sources from People Magazine, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle paid a third down for the lavish chateau and took out a mortgage on the other third.
Looking forward to the future
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are happy to finally settle down in a place of their own. Apart from finally putting down roots, they’ll have time, peace, and comfort to focus on building their nonprofit, the Archewell Foundation.
While it’s unclear what the Archewell Foundation will focus on, reports indicate that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are focusing their efforts on COVID relief and anti-racism efforts in the wake of the pandemic and the killing of George Floyd.
The royal couple is consulting with “thought leaders” for their foundation for the last three months. They’re determining who they want to work with as they try to secure a trademark and roll out their foundation from the comfort of their new home.
