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Find out why the Duchess of Sussex being dubbed the “Sovereign of Santa Barbara” and the “Viscountess of Montecito” aren’t complements.
Meghan Markle‘s Montecito neighbors haven’t been shy when it comes to talking about the duchess, and they don’t have the nicest things to say about her. A new poll conducted shows Meghan has not only become unpopular with those who live around her, but that she’s losing popularity with others across the U.S.
The poll was conducted by YouGov and published in The Times. It found that only four in 10 of her fellow Americans say they have a favorable view of the former Suits star. And some are pointing out that her favorability rating is matching what several of her Montecito neighbors have been saying all along.
Here’s more on that and why Prince Harry’s wife is being mocked as the “Sovereign of Santa Barbara” and “Viscountess of Montecito.”
Why some Montecito neighbors have labeled Meghan a ‘villain’
Richard Mineards, who is one of Meghan and Harry’s neighbors and also a writer for the Montecito Journal, was the first to report that not everyone living in the celebrity enclave is a fan of the former working royal.
Mineards talked to communications specialist and Montecito resident Barry Maher. He described Meghan as nothing more than a “traveling soap opera.” And another neighbor close by told the journalist that they “cannot wait for her [Meghan] to go.”
Then, in a February 2025 cover story, Vanity Fair spoke with dozens of people who live near Meghan. They had some strong feelings about why the Sussexes aren’t good for their neighborhood and referred to them as “local villains.” The reason for that is they feel the duke and duchess attribute to the “increase in housing prices, out-of-towners coming in driving too fast, and taking up all the street parking.” Moreover, residents say that because of the attention on their town now, “You can’t just walk into Lucky’s for dinner anymore.”
And one Montecitan fumed: “I still think they’re the most entitled, disingenuous people on the planet. They moved away from England to get away from the scrutiny of the press, and all they do is try and get in the press in the United States.”
Meghan mocked as the ‘Viscountess of Montecito’ when ‘princess thing didn’t work’
According to the Daily Mail‘s Martin Robinson, “[The] new opinion poll is a wake-up call for ‘The Sovereign of Santa Barbara,’ the ‘Viscountess of Montecito,’ ‘Me-Me-Meghan Markle.’ I’ll cut Charles some slack. Since 1776, we rebels haven’t much cared for kings. But what’s Meg’s excuse?”
A source who’s known Meghan for years explained: “When the princess-thing didn’t work out, she reverted to the person she was when [Harry] found her. She’s trying to say she’s exceedingly normal, which she isn’t. It’s all very LA actress. It’s glaringly obvious she doesn’t get it [why her popularity plummets].”
Several residents had better things to say about the duchess’s husband, as reflected in the poll in which 56% held a favorable view of the prince.
“[Harry] is always charming, approachable … He smiles, shakes hands, willingly exchanges a few words. We’ve seen him at the beach, in an organic coffee shop, or cycling in the hills,” Mineards said, adding that the duke cares less about “controlling” the narrative than Meghan and “is more at ease here, even with his personal struggles.”
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