Meghan and Harry's new home in Santa Barbara

[Wishingstarr]

Well I've seen the news articles and their new home looks absolutely beautiful and a dream SB pad with the ivy clad walls, pool, tennis court etc. SB has gorgeous homes although very expensive and pretty unaffordable for the humble hoi pilloi. I think Meg has played a blinder. I truly hope their marriage lasts but if not she is in possession of some prime real estate and a neighbor of Oprah. It's also where so many politicians come through fundraising at private events, so if she is politically ambitious she is well situated.

However with 9 bedrooms and 16 bathrooms 😄 I really think they CANNOT lecture the world on cutting back and making do to save the environment in anyway!

I am sure DM readers will explode with jealousy and a collective gnashing of teeth. But they wanted her gone, and she has, to a beautiful ocean facing estate with year round sunshine. Good on yer Megs!

@ArnoldBee

I am confused as part of their new law suit it was reported that Archie hadn't been in Santa Barbara at all even though the paps had puctures labelled as such and had only been at Tyler Perry's?

They said Archie hadn't been in Malibu, which was where the photographs were supposed to have been taken. However, they said he hadn't left the house - but forgot to mention the house move!

@boltzmannbrains

^And it’s the essential structural work (including “defective ceiling beams, broken floor joists, outdated electrical systems, gas and water supply issues and ineffective heating systems”) that they are being expected to pay back.

They aren’t being asked to pay back any of the design costs, since they paid all that themselves upfront.

That's not my understanding. There was a lot of structural work involved - not least, turning five homes back in to one home. That was covered as a crown estate cost. The layout and interior was designed to H & M's specification. I am not aware of them paying for the interior upfront - how do you know this?

Charles will have to dig deep to fund all this if they don't start coining it soon.

@boltzmannbrains

Their repayment isn’t for the structural repairs though (the taxpayer paid that - and arguably paid more than necessary to convert into one property rather than continuing as several employee cottages) but for the interior work that was done specifically to their requests and taste.

They paid for all the interior and design work themselves, including all the carpets, curtains, furnishings, bathroom fixtures, kitchen, etc.

The tax payer only paid for the structural work. Which would have cost far less if the RF hadn’t neglected it so badly. Still, it cost far less than the £4.5 million William and Kate spent on renovating their already-perfect £30million home (which had recently been renovated and was in top top condition) doing things like moving their tennis court a few feet to one side so the view would be nicer, ripping out a brand new kitchen, and re-painting the house twice in a row because Kate couldn’t decide what colour she liked.

I don’t believe this is true. If they had paid for it all themselves then they wouldn’t have anything to pay back. Part of their refurbishment was creating an organic garden on the grounds, installing a yoga studio, adding grand fireplaces and ‘an elaborate Gone With The Wind-style double staircase’ as well as other adjustments for Archie. It’s this work (amongst others) that is to their specific taste and that’s why they have been asked to repay it. They are also expected to cover the running costs, as well as the rent and repayment.

It also won’t have cost the same as some people, yet far more than others in this country so I really don’t get your argument about Kate and William. 🤷🏻‍♀️ At the end of the day, the direct heir to the throne and someone who is currently sixth but expected to fall much much further isn’t comparable.

I am not aware of them paying for the interior upfront - how do you know this?

It was widely reported in the press and confirmed by Buckingham Palace that they paid for everything except structural repairs (structural repairs including things like heating and water systems).

They paid for everything that was “to their own specification.”

graziadaily.co.uk/celebrity/news/the-sussexes-frogmore-cottage/

people.com/royals/meghan-markle-prince-harry-frogmore-cottage-home-renovations/

www.royal.uk/sites/default/files/media/final_sovereign_grant_for_website.pdf

Part of their refurbishment was creating an organic garden on the grounds, installing a yoga studio

You know that was a lie the Daily Mail invented, which they had to issue a public apology over, right? There was no yoga studio. The Mail made it up.

@boltzmannbrains. I don’t think there’s much point comparing their expenditure to W &K’s who are still working royals.

H&M have opted out of royal life and want to be financially independent. If they can be in their new mansion, great, it just surprises some of us that they’ve opted for so much. They’ll need to be earning $$$ to maintain it long term.

I really don’t get your argument about Kate and William.

I don’t agree with my tax payer money being used for obscene extravagances like moving a tennis court a bit to the left. Kate is constantly praised for being “thrifty” when in reality she’s basically Marie Antoinette. The “thrifty” persona is a fake image invented by the press because they’re currently trying to boost Kate and demonise Meghan (ignoring the fact they spent years demonising Meghan and writing the exact same lies and crap about Kate that they write about Meghan now).

The press have an agenda to portray different people in different ways, and they manipulate the facts, splash certain details all over the front page while ignoring others, and flat out lie. Clearly people are gullible enough to fall for tabloid manipulation. Look at the post upthread opining that William and Kate live in a cheap modest house and don’t care about materialism!

Look at the “staff leaving in droves because of nasty diva duchess” headlines. The exact same headlines, word for word, were written about both Kate and Meghan when they married in. It’s all just tabloid lies and manipulation. Do people really not see that?

^should read “spent years demonising Kate.”

@boltzmannbrains

I don’t think this thread is sabout what’s reported by the biased media, though, it’s about their recent house purchase, isn’t it? The price of the house, the estimated property taxes, etc. are public information. The running costs reported in the media are based on costs for similar properties in that area.

I hope it works out for them, but I’m still taken aback by the house!

@boltzmannbrains

I really don’t get your argument about Kate and William.

I don’t agree with my tax payer money being used for obscene extravagances like moving a tennis court a bit to the left. Kate is constantly praised for being “thrifty” when in reality she’s basically Marie Antoinette. The “thrifty” persona is a fake image invented by the press because they’re currently trying to boost Kate and demonise Meghan (ignoring the fact they spent years demonising Meghan and writing the exact same lies and crap about Kate that they write about Meghan now).

The press have an agenda to portray different people in different ways, and they manipulate the facts, splash certain details all over the front page while ignoring others, and flat out lie. Clearly people are gullible enough to fall for tabloid manipulation. Look at the post upthread opining that William and Kate live in a cheap modest house and don’t care about materialism!

Look at the “staff leaving in droves because of nasty diva duchess” headlines. The exact same headlines, word for word, were written about both Kate and Meghan when they married in. It’s all just tabloid lies and manipulation. Do people really not see that?

The previous tennis court had fallen into disrepair and needed to be fully refurbished, therefore they may as well have moved it the 20m or so as part of the improved landscaping.

@boltzmannbrains is it only extravagances by a William and Kate that enrage you? Not the extravagances by Meghan and Harry?
Seems odd, why not be angry about it all?

No different from living in a palace and lecturing us, the lot of them not just M&H. Or the various celebrities screaming inequality or racism when they perpetuate, and benefit from it. We really need to stop making the rich our voice. It's ridiculous

Agree, GingerScallop

AmICrazyorWhat2

Fair enough, but them spending stupid money on a new house (I agree their new house is obscene) is relevant to them not having repaid the Frogmore costs.

The facts of the Frogmore finances (and that so many people believe tabloid lies over the official Royal Report which contains a detailed financial breakdown showing exactly who paid for what) are therefore relevant.

I thought everyone knew the Sovereign Grant for Frogmore only covered the structural work and that they paid for everything else themselves. Learning that people are so influenced by tabloid lies they actually believe Harry and Meghan went around installing yoga studios and shit on tax-payer money certainly helps to explains what I’d always perceived as a baffling level of hostility.

Harry and Meghan left yet are still subject to ridiculous abuse and scrutiny, while the royals that remain do everything that Harry and Meghan did except much worse/more excessive and in the case of some royals also commit horrendous acts of exploitation and abuse, with barely a word of criticism.

H&M are not working royals so we cant expect that tolerance for them. i remember a copper bath tub was installed in frogmore cottage for them.

boltz you are the only one who's saying frogmore cottage expenses are already paid.

bluebell34567 the FACT that they paid for anything non-structural has been confirmed by the Royal Report, and widely reported in both the national and international press. So no it’s not just me saying it.

The copper bathtub never existed. That’s another Daily Mail invention which the Daily Mail had to apologise for.

Ahh Meghan and Harry, the gifts that keep giving (to themselves). Happy to shell out £30k per month for their US base not including expenses but makes the UK taxpayers wait over 11 years before we get the money we shelled out for Frogmore. Fucking leeches the pair of them.

Could they have got anything habitable in that area for a palty five million I wonder?

Easily:

www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/940-Coyote-Rd_Santa-Barbara_CA_93108_M28293-66750?view=qv

www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/3030-Hidden-Valley-Ln_Santa-Barbara_CA_93108_M29161-98809?view=qv

And a positive bargain:

www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1711-Hillcrest-Rd_Santa-Barbara_CA_93103_M26221-56737?view=qv

Interesting. I don't know why they want the stress of financial insecurity in their lives. They could have lived so comfortably but without the criticism, the responsibility and the huge financial stretch

[quote Puzzledandpissedoff]Could they have got anything habitable in that area for a palty five million I wonder?

Easily:

www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/940-Coyote-Rd_Santa-Barbara_CA_93108_M28293-66750?view=qv

www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/3030-Hidden-Valley-Ln_Santa-Barbara_CA_93108_M29161-98809?view=qv

And a positive bargain:

www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1711-Hillcrest-Rd_Santa-Barbara_CA_93103_M26221-56737?view=qv[/quote]
Asking for a friend, any of those being sold by a dodgy Russian businessman accused of wife beating??

For a couple who optics are everything for, they really should have investigated who they were handing over all that money to.

any of those being sold by a dodgy Russian businessman accused of wife beating??

I don't know ... I got them off realtor.com and it doesn't mention previous owners far less if they're dodgy oligarchs

I don't even know the names of the people who previously owned any of my houses.

@boltzmannbrains

I don't even know the names of the people who previously owned any of my houses.

Presumably you are not a women’s right humanitarian who has just handed £10 million to a wife beater???

@boltzmannbrains

I don't even know the names of the people who previously owned any of my houses.

I do! I find looking through the deeds fascinating.

There was a interesting interview over the weekend with the chap who built the property H & M have bought - he and his family lived there for a while before he sold to the (alleged) wife beater! He was the one who poured the red wine over the cellar floor to give it an 'authentic' smell.