Troy Aikman lives next door to the royal couple in one of California’s most exclusive zip codes.
But his latest comments expose the uncomfortable truth about how Harry and Meghan are really viewed by their wealthy neighbors.
And Troy Aikman just revealed what every neighbor really thinks about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Cowboys legend keeps his distance from royal drama
Troy Aikman knows how to read a defense on the football field.
The three-time Super Bowl champion is equally skilled at reading the social dynamics in his upscale Montecito neighborhood.
When asked about his famous royal neighbors during a recent interview promoting his EIGHT Elite Light Beer, Aikman delivered a masterclass in diplomatic shade.
"I haven’t run into them," Aikman told Us Weekly. "But they are there from what I can gather. I think anyone with a heartbeat knows that they’re out there. But I’m not hanging with them, that’s for sure."
The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback then twisted the knife with a perfectly timed joke.
"I don’t think they’re drinking much light beer," Aikman quipped.
Translation: These people aren’t his type of neighbors.
The Montecito freeze-out is real
Aikman’s comments arrive at the perfect time to confirm what many suspected about Harry and Meghan’s reception in their adopted hometown.
The royal couple paid $14.65 million for their Mediterranean-style mansion in 2020, expecting to find acceptance among California’s celebrity elite.
Harry and Meghan didn’t win over their neighbors.
A recent Vanity Fair investigation revealed that local residents have dubbed Harry and Meghan "local villains.”
One neighbor who spoke to the magazine referred to Meghan as "the starlet" while discussing the couple’s negative impact on the community.
"I still think they’re the most entitled, disingenuous people on the planet," the resident told Vanity Fair. "They moved away from England to get away from the scrutiny of the press, and all they do is try and get in the press in the United States."
That sounds exactly like what Aikman was diplomatically saying without saying it.
Hollywood’s rejection of the royal brand
The former NFL star’s reluctance to associate with Harry and Meghan reflects a broader trend in elite circles.
Even in liberal Hollywood, there are limits to how much virtue signaling celebrities will tolerate.
Harry and Meghan’s constant need for attention and drama doesn’t fit the Montecito vibe of understated wealth and discretion.
Longtime residents chose this community specifically to escape the spotlight, not to have it follow them home.
Actress Sharon Stone tried to put a positive spin on the situation back in 2020, telling Access Hollywood about the couple’s community involvement.
"You know, the thing about them that is so great is they didn’t come here to live off of our community," Stone said. "They came here to be a part of our community."
Stone even shared an anecdote about how "they bicycled across the street and waved at her while she was sitting at the red light."
But Stone’s comments feel increasingly like the exception rather than the rule among Montecito residents.
The price of fame in an exclusive community
Montecito has always attracted celebrities seeking privacy and tranquility.
Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Bridges, and Gwyneth Paltrow all maintain low profiles while contributing meaningfully to local causes.
Harry and Meghan brought something entirely different to the neighborhood: constant media attention and security drama.
Local residents complain about increased traffic, higher housing costs, and tourist buses hoping to catch glimpses of the royal couple.
The quiet, refined atmosphere that made Montecito special has been replaced by the chaos that follows Harry and Meghan everywhere they go.
One neighbor told Vanity Fair that the couple’s presence has fundamentally changed the character of their community.
"You can’t even run errands without seeing a camera crew or tourists hoping to bump into Harry or Meghan," a resident complained.
Aikman represents the silent majority
The NFL broadcasting legend’s measured response to questions about his royal neighbors perfectly captures how most Montecito residents really feel.
They’re too polite to say it directly, but they wish Harry and Meghan would take their drama somewhere else.
Aikman has lived in Montecito since the 1990s and understands the unwritten rules of the community.
You don’t make a fuss about famous neighbors, you contribute to local causes, and you respect the privacy that everyone moved there to enjoy.
Harry and Meghan have violated every one of these social contracts.
Local journalist Richard Mineards, who covers Montecito society, explained the cultural disconnect in stark terms.
"We appreciate simple people, even famous ones," Mineards said. "Oprah Winfrey, for example, shows up at charity events. Meghan doesn’t play the community game."
The royal couple’s isolation grows deeper
Troy Aikman’s comments confirm what many observers have suspected: Harry and Meghan are becoming increasingly isolated in their adopted home.
The former prince hasn’t made meaningful friendships since arriving in California over four years ago.
"[Meghan] was up front about the fact that Harry hadn’t made many friends yet," a source told Vanity Fair.
Their neighbor relationships are so strained that they’re reportedly considering a move to Los Angeles.
Even in a community filled with celebrities and billionaires, Harry and Meghan have managed to make themselves unwelcome.
The lesson for social climbers everywhere
Aikman’s polite but firm rejection of the royal couple offers a masterclass in how real high society operates.
Titles and fame mean nothing if you don’t understand the social rules.
Harry and Meghan thought their celebrity status would automatically grant them acceptance in Montecito’s exclusive circles.
Instead, they’ve learned that established communities have their own hierarchies and expectations.
Troy Aikman earned his place in Montecito through decades of quiet contribution to the community.
He built relationships based on mutual respect rather than demanding attention based on his famous name.
The royal couple could learn from his example, but it’s probably too late for that now.
The NFL legend’s diplomatic distance from Harry and Meghan sends a clear message to anyone paying attention: fame without character gets you nowhere in the places that really matter.
