How Meghan Markle, Prince Harry changed Montecito for better and for worse
Lowe says Meghan and Harry have turned his once “sleepy little town” into a hotspot, with perks and pain points
Rob Lowe isn’t sugarcoating life in Montecito since Meghan Markle and Prince Harry moved in.
The Hollywood A-lister, who’s called the coastal enclave home for years, says the Sussexes have turned his once “sleepy little town” into a hotspot, complete with perks and pain points.
“They definitely have brought a lot of attention to my sleepy little town,” Lowe told E! News, adding, “Once the royals move into your neighbourhood, the neighbourhood is never going to be the same.”
The silver lining is real estate.
“Property values go up,” he noted. The downside is the everyday errands. “The lines are longer at Starbucks.”
Despite the couple’s efforts to keep a low profile, Montecito locals say tourism and traffic have noticeably increased, with curious visitors eager for a glimpse of the royal-adjacent lifestyle.
It’s the tradeoff of having two of the world’s most-watched figures as neighbours: a boosted profile and booming market, alongside crowds, cameras, and congestion.
For Lowe, it’s all part of the new normal in a town where A-list and royal collide.
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