When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry moved to their Santa Barbara estate during Summer 2020, they were reportedly seeking more privacy than they could find in the middle of Los Angeles. Though the $14.7 million estate in the exclusive enclave Montecito is surrounded by trees and the homes of other celebrities, the couple still isn’t totally sealed off from the outside world. According to the Sun, the couple experienced two security breaches during a two week period of May, and have had six security incidents at the property in the last 14 months.
According to the tabloid, Santa Barbara Police were called to the property at 5:44 p.m. on May 19 after a report of an intruder on the property. They were called again for another intruder report on May 31, just hours before Meghan and Harry took their children Archie and Lilibet to the U.K. for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee. The tabloid noted that the police have been called to the property four more times since May 2021, but noted that a call on January 1, 2022 occurred after the alarm was “mistakenly tripped.”
The estate, which is off a private road, has multiple security gates, but it’s not the first time that Meghan and Harry have had issues with trespassers. Last year, TMZ reported that an intruder had made his way onto the property twice during December 2020. A 37-year-old man drove from Ohio to their estate, going on the grounds once on December 24, and returning again on December 26.
Ever since a paparazzo chased Harry during his June 2021 trip to the U.K., the prince has been engaged in a legal battle with the Home Office over his security arrangements when he enters the country. He has offered to pay for the cost of enhanced security when he is in the country, but a government committee initially declined to give him permission. On Friday, a High Court judge ruled that Harry’s suit about the matter may go to trial.
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