Love thy neighbor?

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s neighbor has claimed that they haven’t made an effort to “fit in” with their community ever since they planted firm roots in California following their 2020 royal exit.

Richard Mineards, a veteran local journalist, alleged that the Invictus Games founder is far more “approachable” than his Sussex counterpart.

Mineards recalled a particular incident where the “Suits” alum, 43, allegedly turned away a local elderly historian who wanted to gift her a copy of his documentary about the area.

“The old man never got past the gate,” he told Daily Mail, adding that the As Ever founder “doesn’t play the community game.”

In fact, Mineards said that Markle’s distant nature is the opposite to that of Oprah Winfrey — also a Montecito resident — who often “shows up at charity events.”

The veteran reporter said that the former actress has remained “practically invisible” to her neighbors ever since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex snapped up their $14 million property — which has since doubled in value.

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“She’s there, of course, but she shows herself very little. Her relationship with Montecito is … distant, shall we say,” he said, adding that she’s managed to “cultivate a very controlled image” of herself.

“She pays attention to every appearance, every word, every gesture,” he added.

In contrast, Mineards pointed out that the community’s sentiments toward the “Spare” author, 40, are markedly different.

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“Harry is always charming, approachable, with that very recognizable Windsor accent,” he said of the duke. “He smiles, shakes hands, willingly exchanges a few words.”

The reporter added that various neighbors had spotted the former working royal “at the beach, in an organic coffee shop or cycling in the hills.”

“Harry has kept his good-natured side,” Mineards said, adding that the prince was “more at ease here, even with his personal struggles.”

Other local residents echoed Mineards’ sentiment, saying the Sussexes mostly keep to themselves.

“I haven’t seen Harry around much. Normally when you see him around here, he’s walking his Labrador on the beach or on his bicycle followed by his security in a Range Rover,” one local told the outlet.

Another local resident claimed that Markle is far more distant than her “jolly” husband.

Still, the comments stand in contrast to those made by Sharon Stone, who praised the Sussexes’ addition to the community in a 2020 interview with Access Hollywood.

“You know, the thing about them that is so great is they didn’t come here to live off of our community, they came here to be a part of our community,” the “Basic Instinct” actress explained.

“My friend said she was sitting in her car and they bicycled across the street and waved at her while she was sitting at the red light.”

“They’re a part of our community, they’ve become a giving, caring, participating part of our community.”

Meghan Markle’s Reputation Would Be “Destroyed” If She Did This

Five years after stepping away from the Royal Family and building a new life in the United States, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry continue to be the center of endless controversy. While Meghan still has a loyal fanbase, her image in the UK has been steadily declining—especially after a series of divisive personal projects such as the Harry & Meghan Netflix documentary and her lifestyle brand As Ever.

Recently, royal expert Jack Royston—chief royal correspondent for Newsweek—made a shocking statement on The Royal Exclusive show by The Sun: “If Meghan were to leave Harry, her image would be completely destroyed.”

“She would be torn apart by public opinion and the media, because Meghan has already been placed into the category of famous women labeled as selfish and manipulative—at least according to how social media and pop culture currently portray her,” Royston emphasized.

It’s not just Meghan who would be affected; Prince Harry—now 40—could also lose everything without Meghan by his side. “They need each other to survive. Without Harry, Meghan is nothing. But without Meghan, Harry’s life in the U.S. would have nothing left to hold onto,” Royston analyzed.