He said: “There was even this anecdote of an elderly neighbour who wanted to give her a documentary he had made on local history. The old man never got past the gate.”

Mr Mineards claimed that the incident spoke volumes about how “distant” the area had become, unlike her husband, according to the Mail.

The neighbour said: “She cultivates a very controlled image. She pays attention to every appearance, every word, every gesture.

“And here in Montecito, we appreciate simple people, even famous ones.

“Oprah Winfrey, for example, shows up at charity events. Meghan doesn’t play the community game.”

He added that, while Meghan “never tried to fit in” in Montecito, Harry’s case is a different story as he appears to be much warmer than his wife.

The journalist claimed: “He is always charming, approachable, with that very recognisable Windsor accent. He smiles, shakes hands, willingly exchanges a few words.

“We’ve seen him at the beach, in an organic coffee shop, or cycling in the hills.

“Harry has kept his good-natured side. We feel that he is more at ease here, even with his personal struggles.”

He added: “Meghan, on the other hand, is practically invisible. She’s there, of course, but she shows herself very little. Her relationship with Montecito is distant, shall we say.”