Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s lavish mansion under threat after Santa Barbara issues drought warning
In response to a scorching drought, residents of the area will have to limit their use of water


Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
Thank you for signing up to Woman & Home. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
In response to a scorching drought in the area, officials have imposed a hosepipe ban in Montecito, where Meghan Markle and Prince Harry reside in a $14 million mansion.
- Residents who don't abide by the new ban can face up to $500 in fines.
- According to reports, the royal couple spends tens of thousands of dollars on gardening their property each month.
- In other royal news, these are the royals who helped select Kate Middleton's birthday portraits.
In an effort to preserve water as a result of a drought that could potentially lead to extremely dangerous wildfires, authorities in Montecito—an exclusive community east of Santa Barbara—have instituted new rules that prohibit filling decorative fountains, watering properties within 48 hours of rainfall and even washing cars without a hose that features a shut-off nozzle. The new guidelines will almost surely affect the lifestyle of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who moved into their $15 million estate in the area back in August 2020.
According to some reports, the couple spends upwards of tens of thousands of dollars each month on gardening needs (can you blame them? The five-acre Santa Barbara mansion's grounds is filled with olive trees and it boasts a vegetable garden, a tennis court, a pool, a playground and even a slew of rose gardens, among other features).
Folks who don’t abide by the new guidelines, which will last one full year and do not make exceptions for recreational facilities in the area, can face fines of up to $500 and monthly bills in higher price tiers.
This isn't a new situation in Montecito. Back in 2014, while the area was recovering from extreme drought, famous resident Oprah Winfrey had to truck thousands of gallons of water to use on her 40-acre estate. Clearly, there's precedent.
Whether connected to the recently announced guidelines or not, new reports have also surfaced about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex actually considering moving out of their current home.
An anonymous source told the Daily Mail that the couple wants to "stay in the neighborhood or nearby but they aren't over the moon about the house or the location" they currently reside in.
Whether that's true or not is yet to be seen but, just in case you've got a few million dollars lying around, you should know that the couple's lavish home features 16 bathrooms, a children's cottage, a spa with a separate dry and wet sauna, a game room, a theater, a wine cellar, a gym, and a five-car garage, among plenty of other memorable characteristics. Who knows—it might be your next home.
woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
Anna Rahmanan is a New York-based writer and editor who covers culture, entertainment, food, fashion and travel news. Anna’s words have appeared on Time Out New York, the Huffington Post, Fortune, Forbes, Us Weekly, Bon Appetit and Brooklyn Magazine, among other outlets.
-
-
Should we be investing in large, furry hats for winter? Pippa Middleton makes a strong case for them
If Pippa Middleton is wearing large, furry hats, we'll be wearing large, furry hats too
By Madeline Merinuk Published
-
Stanley Tucci shares his favourite homemade soup recipe that helps 'keep him strong' while sick
If it's good enough for Stanley Tucci, it's certainly good enough for us
By Madeline Merinuk Published
-
Prince Harry misses out on precious moment with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet for second year in a row
Prince Harry has missed out on sharing a special day with his children for the second time in two years as he's set to undertake a key duty
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Meghan Markle ditches engagement ring for Invictus Games visit and she’s not the only one to have done this over the years
The Duchess of Sussex was only wearing her wedding and eternity rings during her recent appearances at the Invictus Games
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Meghan Markle’s ‘off the cuff’ speech in first major public appearance in four months contained this heartfelt apology
The Duchess of Sussex reportedly improvised a special speech as she attended an Invictus Games event with Prince Harry in Düsseldorf
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Prince William and Kate unlikely to 'make peace' with Prince Harry and Meghan for ‘sake’ of their children
It's been claimed Prince William and the Princess of Wales and Sussexes are unlikely to reunite 'anytime soon'
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Prince Harry shares cheeky joke about his and Meghan's new 'rivalry' as he makes surprise appearance in Germany
Prince Harry made a cheeky joke about him and his wife as he paid a visit to Germany for the Invictus Games
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Prince Harry pays poignant tribute to Queen Elizabeth II marking anniversary of her death with special remark about her final day
Prince Harry paid tribute to his late grandmother, the Queen, a year after her death
By Caitlin Elliott Published
-
The harsh message King Charles had to deliver about seeing Prince Harry while he's in the UK
It does not seem that a family reunion is looming...
By Madeline Merinuk Published
-
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s date night at Beyoncé concert includes sparkly dress code and… sharing clothes?
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were spotted enjoying Beyoncé’s first concert at Los Angeles
By Jack Slater Published