Tom Hanks Furious as Meghan’s Team Blocks Locals from Montecito Beach

Residents of the upscale neighborhood of Hope Ranch in Santa Barbara are expressing their discontent with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's presence.

The royal couple, who currently reside in Montecito after purchasing a lavish $14.6 million mansion in 2021, have allegedly been seen on the town's beach.

Concerns are rising among locals that Harry and Meghan's arrival could transform their area into an exclusive enclave for the Montecito elite.

The situation escalated when the couple started frequenting the beach with a group of bodyguards and a team of paparazzi, effectively turning it into a private space inaccessible to the public.

Understandably, no one wants to cross paths with them due to their notoriety.

Butterfly Beach, situated across from the luxurious Four Seasons Baltimore Hotel, is one of the most coveted spots in Santa Barbara County.

Furthermore, a shop employee revealed that the duo's security team had closed off streets and hiking trails, causing significant disruption to the small beach community that values its privacy.

“It's really not right for streets to be closed down and things to be closed down for them, and that's been very disruptive to a small beach community that's used to being private,” the employee expressed.

“People pay a lot of money to live here, you know.”

Meghan and Harry's actions have not only angered the affluent residents of the area but also the famous guests who often frequent the beach.

Tom Hanks and his wife, musician Rita Wilson, who share a close bond with the Montecito community, regularly visit Butterfly Beach to unwind during the summer.

They have voiced their dissatisfaction with the Sussexes' behavior.

Tom Hanks, a beloved actor hailing from Northern California, has made Southern California his home for many years.

The couple has owned properties in various locations, including Malibu, the Pacific Palisades, Sun Valley, Idaho, and Greece.

Interestingly, Hanks and Wilson were deeply involved in assisting the country's recovery from massive wildfires in 2018, leading to them being granted honorary citizenship the following year.

The introduction of high-profile individuals like Harry and Meghan would undoubtedly alter the character of the area.

This prospect is met with strong resistance from the locals, with the homeowners association expected to vehemently oppose it.

“It's definitely not something that locals want, and I think the homeowners association would fight hard against it,” a resident stated.

“The heads of the HOA are careful about keeping it that way and preserving privacy.

That's the number one appeal of Montecito.

We're the only ones in the area with a private beach.”

Brian Nayer, a global luxury real estate specialist for Coldwell Banker Realty in Beverly Hills, explained to the New York Post that properties in Hope Ranch rarely become available on the market, allowing sellers to be selective about their buyers.

The community is known for its exclusivity, with properties being passed down through generations of old money and generational wealth.

“It's more of a small and very affluent community where properties don't come up on the market very often because of that,” Nayer remarked.