Troy Aikman speaks out on being neighbours with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
NFL legend Troy Aikman lives in the same neighbourhood as Harry and Meghan
NFL legend Troy Aikman might live just down the road from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, but don’t expect a royal barbecue anytime soon.
The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, 58, recently revealed in an interview with Us Weekly that while he owns a home in Montecito, California, not far from the Sussexes’ $14 million estate, he hasn’t crossed paths with them, and doesn’t expect to.
Troy Aikman on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
“I haven’t run into them,” Troy said. “But they are there, from what I can gather. I think anyone with a heartbeat knows that they’re out there. But I’m not hanging with them, that’s for sure.”
“I don’t think they’re drinking much light beer,” the EIGHT Elite Light Beer founder quipped.
While it may come as no surprise that the royal couple and the Super Bowl champ haven’t linked up socially, Troy isn’t the only neighbour with thoughts on the Montecito royals.
Since relocating to Montecito in 2020, Prince Harry, 40, and Meghan Markle, 43, have settled into life away from the UK spotlight, raising their children Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4.
However, while they’ve embraced privacy, some locals have taken notice of their quiet presence.
Local columnist and society reporter Richard Mineards recently shared his take on the couple’s neighbourhood dynamics.
He told the Daily Mail that Meghan hasn’t made much effort to engage with the local scene.
“She pays attention to every appearance, every word, every gesture,” Richard said. “And here in Montecito, we appreciate simple people, even famous ones. Meghan doesn’t play the community game.”
By contrast, Prince Harry has apparently endeared himself to the locals.
“He is always charming, approachable, with that very recognisable Windsor accent,” Richard gushed. “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.
“He’s more relaxed here. Meghan, on the other hand, is practically invisible. She’s there, of course, but she shows herself very little.”
Meghan and Harry’s celebrity neighbours
While Troy isn’t bonding with the Sussexes over brews, others in the neighbourhood had more positive things to say.
Actress Sharon Stone previously described the couple as down-to-earth and community-minded.
“They’re a part of our community, they’ve become a giving, caring, participating part of our community,” she said. “They’re not here to be like, ‘Would you like to kiss my butt?.”
Still, not all residents are charmed.
Local PR consultant Barry Maher told The Mirror that the couple’s presence is beginning to wear thin for some.
Noting that Harry and Meghan live in a “considerably pricier spot”, he echoed Richard’s sentiments that they keep to themselves and are rarely seen by neighbours.
Barry complained that many locals are tired of the “travelling soap opera”.
Since their move to Montecito in 2020, Harry and Meghan have kept their inner circle tight. Their neighbourhood friends include Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King.
At one point, the couple were also close with Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi. However, the talk show host has since relocated to the U.K.
Despite the mixed reviews, it seems the Sussexes are content in their Montecito bubble.
Read more: ‘Desperate reason’ Prince Harry and Meghan Markle post photos of Archie and Lilibet
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