Sharon Stone has shared her perspective on living next door to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, years after they moved to the United States in search of a 'financially independent lifestyle.'
The Hollywood actress recently opened up about her experiences living next to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Montecito, California, as the couple continues to face criticism and scrutiny.
Recent reports have accused Meghan, 43, of being "awful" towards staff when things didn’t go her way, leading to further allegations of misconduct by the couple. A source has suggested that Meghan and Harry, 40, "don’t know what change the world means," following the cancellation of their Spotify podcast, Archetypes.
In commemoration of five years since the Sussexes stepped back from royal duties, *Vanity Fair* published an article offering insights from people who have worked closely with the couple. The report highlighted that since relocating to Montecito, Harry and Meghan have become known as "the prince and the starlet" or "local villains." The couple’s presence has allegedly attracted outsiders to the area, leading to difficulties like not being able to secure walk-in reservations at a popular local steakhouse.
One anonymous source compared Meghan’s public life to that of Princess Diana, noting, “Diana walked amongst land mines. Meghan couldn’t even say the word 'sl*t'.” The source also pointed out that while the Sussexes claim to want to change the world, their actions suggest otherwise.
Amid the controversies, Sharon Stone’s earlier comments from 2020 have resurfaced, offering a different perspective on the couple's transition to life in California. Reflecting on their move, Stone said, "The thing about them, which is so great, is that they didn’t come here to live off of our community. They came here to be a part of our community."
She added, "They’re a part of our community, they become a part, a giving, caring, participating part of our community. They’re not here, like, 'Would you like to kiss my butt?'"
Meanwhile, *Vanity Fair* painted a less favorable picture of Prince Harry, calling him a “hapless if well-meaning man” and citing a report where he allegedly considered interviewing controversial figures like Vladimir Putin. Harry is quoted saying, “I have very bad childhood trauma. Obviously. My mother was essentially murdered. What is it about me that didn’t make me one of the bad guys?”
The article also suggested that Meghan Markle could be "really, really awful" to royal staff, despite initially presenting a “warm and effusive” demeanor after her wedding to Harry. As tensions grew, she reportedly became “cold and withholding toward the person she perceived to be responsible” for mishaps.
Insiders also claimed that Meghan had a tendency to berate staff in a controlled tone on "any given Tuesday," often due to her exacting standards. These challenges were reportedly exacerbated by Harry and Meghan’s own high expectations.
Sources close to the couple have said that they find these allegations "distressing," but the public continues to dissect their actions and public personas, with opinions about the Sussexes continuing to divide.
