Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's US neighbourhood implements new safety measure for residents' 'protection'


The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have moved back to the UK but have retained use of their massive Montecito mansion across the pond


Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wearing shirts and gazing into the distance© Getty
Rachel Avery
Rachel AveryHomes Editor
35 minutes ago

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are currently residing in the UK, along with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. However, the family have also chosen to retain their US base, a sprawling Montecito mansion. Stateside, their neighbourhood has undergone a big change, implementing a fresh safety measure. 

Sadly, Montecito is prone to adverse weather conditions including wildfires and to preempt this issue, the Montecito Fire Department and Montecito Water District have teamed up to add two new temporary firefighter housing locations to be utilised during periods of elevated fire risk.

meghan door
Meghan pictured on the doorstep of their Montecito mansion

Montecito Fire Chief Brian Fallon has said: "By proactively positioning firefighters at these two locations on the far ends of our district, we can greatly reduce the time it takes to arrive on scene of a vegetation fire in remote wildland areas where our fire risk is the highest."

"We are pleased to collaborate on these important initiatives to increase protection for residents," Montecito Water District General Manager Nick Turner added. 

Another issue in the area is mudslides, which have caused homes in the neighbourhood to be evacuated in the past. Experts are concerned that once the summer season is over and rains fall again, more floods could be on their way. The worry centres around San Ysidro Creek, which is very close to Harry and Meghan's gated community. 

terrace area with plants and chairs
The bedroom terrace at Harry and Meghan's home

Terry Cunningham is the millionaire businessman who built Harry and Meghan's home, the Chateau of Riven Rock. It took him four years to meticulously build it, but he has since admitted he didn't even consider the weather threats. 

Terry told the Mail on Sunday: "We sure as hell didn't think about it [the mudslides] when we were building, but certainly it's something I would be thinking about now."

Where are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle living in the UK?

Since their shock relocation, the royal couple have remained tight-lipped about their exact location, but the Cotswolds is a hotly-tipped destination, likely due to the quieter surroundings, idyllic scenery and ample access to good education. 

Castle Combe is one of the Cotswolds' big hitters© Getty Images
The Cotswolds has been tipped to be where the Sussexes are living

"They have lots of friends in the area," a source told HELLO! previously. "Meghan is close to Ellen DeGeneres, who lives there with her wife, Portia de Rossi, as does Simon Cowell, who is friends with Prince Harry."

As well as rumours swirling, Meghan Markle has been spotted at Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds, according to Daily Beast editor-at-large Tom Sykes and reports in The Guardian. Is this the strongest suggestion that the family have found themselves a leafy base in the Cotswolds? Perhaps so. 

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