Meghan Markle, Prince Harry relocate to ‘family home’ in Santa Barbara

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have made their West Coast relocation official now that they’ve purchased a ‘family home’ in Santa Barbara.

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People reports that the couple has purchased a residence in Santa Barbara, a seaside town 100 miles north of Los Angeles. Since they stepped down as members of the royal family, the pair have enjoyed stays in Vancouver, Canada, and Los Angeles, reportedly at a house owned by filmmaker Tyler Perry.

“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved into their family home in July of this year,” a rep for the couple informs people People. “They have settled into the quiet privacy of their community since their arrival and hope that this will be respected for their neighbors, as well as for them as a family.”

The move is reportedly to provide a normal upbringing for their 1-year-old son, Archie. People says the husband and wife aim to live “as normal a life as possible.”

In May, the family reportedly stayed in a Beverly Hills mansion owned by Perry. According to theGrio, the lavish home nestled in a gated community had eight bedrooms, 12 bathrooms and was valued at $12M.

The move into the new place gives Meghan and Harry some equally famous neighbors. Oprah Winfrey, who is also a family friend, actor Rob Lowe, and embattled TV host Ellen DeGeneres all reside in the area.

Since making the move to California the couple has been seen out-and-about wearing protective masks as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

“Like everyone, they are adjusting to [social distancing], being cautious and safe,” a source previously told People.

Together, they have also spent time volunteering and lending their time to important causes. The couple teamed up with Project Angel Food, delivering meals to people living with critical illness this past Easter.

“What Meghan said is she wanted to show Harry Los Angeles through the eyes of philanthropy. It’s just beautiful,” Project Angel Food’s executive director Richard Ayoub told People at the time. “There’s obviously a great deal of love and selflessness between them.”

The couple has also used their platform to speak out against racism and injustice.

“I realized the only wrong thing to say is to say nothing, because George Floyd’s life mattered,” Markle says in a virtual speech to new graduates of her former high school, Immaculate Heart High School, theGrio reports.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also joined a video conference with teens leading the fight for equality with the Queens Commonwealth Trust organization, according to theGrio.

READ MORE: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry talk racism with Commonwealth youth leaders

“However, once you start to realize that there is that bias there, then you need to acknowledge it, you need to do the work to become more aware … so that you can help stand up for something that is so wrong and should not be acceptable in our society today,” remarks Prince Harry.

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