Prince Harry and Meghan face cannabis hell as Montecito mansion hit with 'ungodly stink'

The California neighbourhood where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle live is facing a 'jaw-clamping stench' caused by the production of cannabis in nearby farms, a resident has claimed

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing a foul odour in their neighbourhood

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing an "ungodly stink" in their Montecito mansion due to nearby cannabis farms that are said to be plaguing the whole neighbourhood.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex live in a £12 million home with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The Tuscan-style property boasts a cinema, gym, and pool among its facilities, but neighbours have recently complained about a "skunk-like" odour and a "jaw-clamping stench" caused by cannabis legally grown nearby.

One of the farms causing the could odour was previously said to be the background of Meghan's new Netflix cookery series, but the rumours were denied earlier this month. The farm is among several that have seen traditional crops, such as grapes and avocados, make way for cannabis which is grown on an "industrial scale" in California.

The neighbourhood where Harry and Meghan live smells of cannabis, residents have said

A resident said he called in pest control as he thought the smell was caused by rodents, but after experts installed a trap, no mice were found. The house owner allegedly helped bring a lawsuit against two farms - but not the one where Meghan's show was said to be filmed at - as their output is said to be particularly bad, reported MailOnline.

According to the publication, scrubbers might be needed in the neighbourhood as these filtering machines can rid the air of 84 per cent of cannabis smell. However, they are considered quite expensive, with a price tag of £17,000 per piece - and in order to be effective, ten machines per acre are needed.

Harry and Meghan at the State Governor House in Lagos, Nigeria, on May 12

Following the publication of his memoir 'Spare', Harry wrote that marijuana "really helped him" mentally but taking cocaine "did nothing for him". The Duke of Sussex opened up about his drug use in a live question and answer session in March 2023, set up to promote his book, where the audience paid for a ticket to tune in.

Speaking about cocaine, Harry told Dr Gabor Maté: "That didn't do anything for me. It was more of a social thing." He added: "It gave me a sense of belonging for sure. It also made me feel different to the way I was feeling, which is kind of the point." Moving on to cannabis, which he has admitted to using before, Harry said: "Marijuana is different, that actually did really help me."

Harry and Meghan moved to America four years ago, shortly after announcing they were stepping down as senior working royals. Local residents have claimed the Sussexes mainly keep themselves to themselves as the Express US reported that the couple are "ghosts" in their own neighbourhood.

Chatting to a lady who works at a boutique in Montecito, she revealed: "Day to day people don't see them. I don't think it's too much of an impact here." Another resident, who is the co-owner of Tresor Montecito, then told the paper: "It's kind of the way Montecito is anyway, everyone just does their own thing."

The Sussexes bought their Montecito mansion for £12million

Zach Rosen, the managing editor of the local Montecito Journal newspaper, then told the outlet: "We probably feel the media presence more than their presence." Mr Rosen added: "We're usually taking the stance that these are our community members and we do want to respect their privacy."

One reason that the Sussexes might not venture out much in the neighbourhood is down to the fact that they are busy with their various pending projects. Meghan is working on her new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard and on two Netflix shows with her husband. The Sussexes also recently visited Nigeria together for a tour of the West African country