Police called to Harry and Meghan’s home nine times in as many months
Man was allegedly caught trespassing on property over Christmas
Support truly
independent journalism
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
![Louise Thomas](https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/support-us/louise-thomas.png)
Louise Thomas
Editor
Police have been called to the California home of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry nine times in as many months, according to official data.
Authorities responded to calls listed as phone requests, alarm activations and property crimes at the $14m Montecito home, according to Data obtained under Freedom of Information (FOI) laws by the Press Association.
Prince Harry and Meghan moved into the property with one-year-old son Archie last year. They had previously been living in Los Angeles temporarily, after leaving Canada at the start of the pandemic.
The official figures come after Prince Harry told Oprah Winfrey in a bombshell interview about the security concerns he and his family have faced in recent years.
Officers were said to have been called four times in July last year after Prince Harry and Meghan moved in. The calls, which occurred in the early hours of the morning were reportedly listed as phone requests and “alarm activations”.
Read more:
- Queen ‘told Meghan she could continue her acting career’, claims royal expert
- Kate Middleton ‘being very careful’ not to take limelight from Prince William, claims royal expert
- All the bizarre powers you didn’t know the Queen has
- 7 things you may not know about Princess Anne
- Princess Eugenie got into trouble with royals for sharing behind-the-scenes palace photo
All of the calls took place in the early hours of the morning.
A request in August was listed as “Misc Priority Incdnt”, while another alarm in November was also listed. Sheriff’s deputies were also said to have been called on Christmas Eve and on Boxing Day.
On Christmas Eve, the FOI data shows that sheriff’s deputies were called to the house at 4.13pm after a man was alleged to have trespassed.
TMZ reported in March that the Santa Barbara home was breached twice by an unwanted visitor in December. Nickolas Brooks, 37, was allegedly caught trespassing on the property of the family.
In a previous statement to The Independent, the Santa Barabara Sheriff’s Department confirmed the two trespassing incidents and Mr Brooks’s arrest. He was charged for misdemeanour trespassing and booked at the county jail.
The records show that the most recent call was an “alarm activation” at 2.21am on 16 February this year.
Security concerns mounted for the royal couple prior to them stepping back from duties. Meghan revealed that the couple learning their son would not receive security protection led them to their decision to step back.
In their tell-all interview with Oprah, the couple revealed that their official security detail had been removed, with Prince Harry saying he “never thought” that would happen.
“I was born into this position. I inherited the risk. So that was a shock to me,” he said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments