The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been living in Montecito with their two children for five years.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have lived in Montecito for five years (Image: Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quit life as senior royals five years ago, opting to instead move across the pond and set up a new life in America.

Since the summer of 2020, the couple have been living in a large Montecito mansion with their two children Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.

While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex still need a security team, Harry has spoken numerous times about how “grateful” he is for life in America, which enables his children to have a more ordinary upbringing than that of his own.

And while things seem all happy behind closed doors, it seems that the family are also enjoying life in the Montecito community, despite previous reports suggesting they do not always fully integrate themselves.

Actress Sharon Stone, who is neighbours with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, told Hello! Magazine that the couple are part of the community and even kindly waved to a neighbour they did not know.

Speaking in a new interview, Sharon said: “You know, the thing about them that is so great is they didn’t come here to live off of our community, they came here to be a part of our community.

“My friend said she was sitting in her car and they bicycled across the street and waved at her while she was sitting at the red light.

“They’re a part of our community, they’ve become a giving, caring, participating part of our community.”

Since the start of the year, Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, have also shown support for the community by volunteering to help those impacted by the recent LA wildfires.

The couple’s estate is not far from some of their celebrity friends such as Oprah Winfrey (Image: VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)

The couple have also reportedly opened up their Montecito mansion to friends and family in need.

In an interview just last month, Prince Harry revealed that he thinks his late mother Princess Diana would be pleased he is living the life he is now away from Palace walls.

While in conversation with columnist and Dealbook founder Andrew Ross Sorkin at The New York Times DealBook Online Summit on December 4, Harry admitted that he would love to stay in the US – suggesting that he has no plans to move back to the UK.

Speaking about his children, Harry said: “I very much enjoy living here and bringing my kids up here. It’s a part of my life that I never thought I was going to live.I feel as though it’s the life that my mum wanted for me.

“To be able to do the things I’m able to do with my kids that I undoubtedly wouldn’t be able to do in the UK — it’s huge. That is a fantastic opportunity and I’m hugely grateful for that.”