Prince Harry And Meghan Markle's Neighbor Claims They Wouldn't Accept His Welcome Gift

When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved into their home in Montecito, California, they knew they'd be in good company — other Montecito residents include Oprah Winfrey, Rob Lowe, and Katy Perry. The couple's decision to move to the area is said to have been based on the fact that so many celebrities enjoy a quieter lifestyle there without the paparazzi at every turn. "Harry loves California, but they were both drawn to the smaller town of Santa Barbara, where they can integrate into the community while having some distance and privacy that is hard to come by in the Los Angeles area," a source told Vogue. 

And while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been known to rub elbows with some of Hollywood's elite, there was one person who they reportedly had little interest in — their neighbor. When 88-year-old U.S. Navy veteran Frank McGinity found out that he had new neighbors, he wanted to do something special to welcome them by gifting them some films he made about the area and its rich history — but his good deed wasn't very appreciated. "Harry and Meghan live on old McCormick property and I went up to their gate with the films on a CD, but they weren't interested," McGinity wrote in the latest edition of his book, "Get Off Your Street: A Personal Travelogue," which was released in April (per Express). 

McGinity revealed he was turned away by "the gate guy" and went on to say that he was "surprised" the duke and duchess moved to the neighborhood in the first place.

Frank McGinity is very familiar with Montecito and has done quite a bit of writing on the area for The Montecito Journal. But while he really enjoys the history that surrounds the town, he admits that he finds it curious that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved there to begin with. "We don't see them very much around here. It's surprising they came here. People are typically older. It's where the elephants come to die," he wrote in his book.

Interestingly, another report suggests that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex may be getting ready to leave Montecito — perhaps for that very reason. Sources say the couple has been quietly looking at homes in the outskirts of central Los Angeles, with Meghan's work in Hollywood reportedly inspiring the couple to move closer to LA. "Harry and Meghan are reviewing their living options with Malibu being a place of interest. They have secretly visited the area a couple of times and have been out and about, looking at what's there," a source told Express, adding that it's unclear if Harry and Meghan are thinking of buying a second home in Malibu or completely relocating. Indeed, the area they are reportedly looking in seems to attract a younger crowd; Miley Cyrus is among the residents.