The “Princess of Montecito” isn’t as beloved as her Prince.
Meghan Markle’s bitter neighbor claimed that she doesn’t really “fit in” with the Montecito, Calif., crowd — but that her husband, Prince Harry, is much more “approachable.”
Richard Mineards recalled Markle allegedly turning away a local elderly historian who wanted to gift her a copy of his documentary about the ritzy area when the couple first moved in.
“The old man never got past the gate,” Mineards alleged to the Daily Mail Thursday, explaining that the alleged incident with the historian is an example of how Markle has become “distant” from her community.
The local resident claimed that the Duchess of Sussex, 43, has cultivated a “very controlled image.”
“She pays attention to every appearance, every word, every gesture,” Mineards said. “And here in Montecito, we appreciate simple people, even famous ones.”
Mineads pointed out that Markle’s pal and neighbor, Oprah Winfrey, has attended community charity events, but that the “With Love, Meghan” host has yet to show up in the same way.
“Meghan doesn’t play the community game,” he claimed.
Markle has allegedly “never tried to fit in” with the inhabitants of the Santa Barbara County town.
On the flip side, Mineards praised Harry, 40, as being warm and welcoming with the locals.
“He is always charming, approachable, with that very recognizable Windsor accent. He smiles, shakes hands, willingly exchanges a few words,” he said. “We’ve seen him at the beach, in an organic coffee shop, or cycling in the hills.”
Mineards described the Duke of Sussex as “less in control” than his wife.
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“Harry has kept his good-natured side. We feel that he is more at ease here, even with his personal struggles,” he said.
“Meghan, on the other hand, is practically invisible,” Mineards continued. “She’s there, of course, but she shows herself very little. Her relationship with Montecito is… distant, shall we say.”
The duchess’ rep did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
Markle and Harry moved into their $14 million manor — where they currently reside with their two kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, in 2020 — after they stepped back from their royal roles.
Two years later, reports surfaced that her neighbors dubbed Markle the “Princess of Montecito.”
The “As Ever” founder has spent much of her time hanging with her A-list neighbors like Winfrey, Gayle King and Ellen DeGeneres, who recently moved across the pond after President Trump began his second term.