Three tins of Meghan Markle’s flower sprinkles are all that appear to remain of the Duchess of Sussex’s once-promoted lifestyle operation in Montecito, as residents describe a largely indifferent response to her and Prince Harry’s departure for Britain.
The $15 tins were photographed on display at a local bookshop, a muted end to a retail presence that was heavily associated with Markle’s Netflix lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan. The brand, As Ever, was launched with products including preserves, honey, teas, baking mixes and edible flower toppings.
The couple moved to Montecito in 2020 after stepping back from royal duties and later bought a substantial property in the affluent enclave near Santa Barbara. They have now travelled to the UK with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, for an extended stay, while retaining their California home.
Harry and Meghan are not returning as working members of the Royal Family. The move is understood to be connected in part with the children’s education, with the family expected to establish a private base in Britain rather than take up a royal residence.
In Montecito, however, the news appears to have prompted little public emotion. Residents interviewed in the area said the couple had generally maintained a low profile, with some describing their presence as barely noticeable beyond the security arrangements and media attention that followed their arrival.
Gina Pennino, who lives close to the Sussexes’ gated estate, said she often saw the family while walking her dog but had not known they were preparing to leave. Another local resident reportedly summed up his reaction in a single word: “Nothing.”
The response reflects the character of Montecito, an unincorporated community where wealthy and famous residents are commonplace. The area has long been home to actors, musicians, business figures and other high-profile families, making the arrival of a former prince and an internationally known actress less disruptive than it might have been elsewhere.
Some residents have nevertheless criticised the couple for failing to become involved in local life. Richard Mineards, a writer associated with the Montecito Journal, has said that he did not regard Meghan as an asset to the community and believed she had not taken part in its social or civic activities.
Other claims about strained relations between the Sussexes and their neighbours have circulated in the media, including suggestions that invitations and introductions were selectively accepted. Those accounts have not been supported by any formal complaint or public record of a dispute, and the couple have previously been described by people close to them as having good relationships within the community.
The retreat of the As Ever display provides a more visible symbol of the change. The products were promoted as an extension of Markle’s taste for hosting, cooking and entertaining, themes central to With Love, Meghan. Flower sprinkles, in particular, became one of the brand’s most recognisable items after featuring in the programme and in the Duchess’s social-media content.
The business was initially developed in partnership with Netflix, which helped launch the brand alongside the series. That arrangement ended in March 2026, with both sides presenting the split as a planned transition. Netflix said Meghan would continue developing As Ever independently, while the brand expressed gratitude for the streaming company’s support during its launch and first year.
The company’s early releases attracted considerable attention, with some products selling out quickly. Yet the brand has since faced a more uncertain future, with its physical presence in Montecito reduced to a small selection of remaining goods.
The Sussexes’ move also marks a significant change in the family’s public identity. They have spent six years building a life in California, producing television programmes, publishing Harry’s memoir and pursuing commercial and charitable projects from the United States.
Their return to Britain does not represent a restoration of their former royal roles, and relations with senior members of the Royal Family remain strained. But their presence in the UK is likely to renew attention on the couple, even as the reaction in Montecito suggests that local life will continue much as before.
