Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's neighbour hints at their 'lonely' life in Montecito

The 45-minute film has been more than a year in the making and is an examination of whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have succeeded in "finding freedom" and launching themselves as a financially independent couple.

Documentary-maker Ulrike Grunewald, who has been a royal correspondent since 1987 when she accompanied then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana on their visit to Germany, said: "Harry and Meghan have set the bar very high.

"They want to be global benefactors who bring about tangible change.

"So far, they have not lived up to this image at all."

Grunewald travelled to Montecito to try to interview the couple and their friends. She claimed the Sussexes had not fully integrated into the community’s most elite circles.

The filmmaker continued to tell The Mail: "On average, the millionaires and billionaires who move here pay eight to nine million euros for a house.

"The cultural life is very lively, but everything often takes place in closed circles and Harry and Meghan rarely take part in these activities.

"They seem to have isolated themselves a lot."

The Sussexes’ neighbour, Richard Mineards, told Grunewald that the couple do not seem to have put down deep roots in the area, being seldom seen in town.

According to Mineards, the couple makes occasional trips to the local market or walks, always with security in tow.

He said: "Sometimes you will see her at the farmers’ market or with a dog but generally you don’t see her and you just don’t see much of him. It’s a shame. This is a lovely place."

Despite these reports, Harry and Meghan are known to be close friends with Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres, both residents of Montecito.

The couple have also been seen spending time with Tyler Perry, a resident of California and godfather to Princess Lilibet, three.

Prince Harry's cousin, Princess Eugenie, and her husband Jack Brooksbank visited the Sussexes in 2022.

LATEST ROYAL NEWS:

• Dara Huang misses major celebration in US as she co-parents with Edoardo and Beatrice
• Camilla’s son speaks out on Christmas snub: 'I’m not sure where I’ll be'
• Kate releases new statement just days before appearance with George, Charlotte and Louis

Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, also lives a short drive away in Los Angeles.

Grunewald added: "During the year that we worked on this film, a change of strategy was recognisable in Harry and Meghan. They started out as a power duo in their new life in California.

"Now they mainly appear separately, as they were unable to create a functioning image together. They have come down to earth.

"I was interested in whether Harry and Meghan’s strategies for an independent life are working. After four years, the results are very mixed."