MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry may have not yet publicly congratulated the Queen on her Platinum Jubilee – but they may be a little preoccupied at the moment.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s £11million mansion is said to have been engulfed by a foul smell, leaving neighbours “disgusted.”
It is said to have been caused by the nearby Andrée Clark Bird Refuge, which is a 42-acre saltwater marsh.
The area is one of the largest wildlife refuges in Santa Barbara and the water can become “stagnant” leading to an odour.
The foul stink is said to have hit the area in Montecito, California, which is also home to Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry.
A local resident told the Mirror: “It smells like offal that has been rotting in the sun. It makes my stomach churn.
“I’ve seen lots of homeowners closing their windows when it wafts over.”
Local officials say the stench could last as long as the autumn, when improvements are in the pipeline.
Cameron Benson, clean water manager for the City of Santa Barbara, said: “Water can become stagnant there.
“The odour issues are sporadic and sometimes they are worse in some conditions.”
It’s not the first smell Meghan and Harry have had to contend with.
Last year, it was reported the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been living just minutes from a legal weed factory base in Santa Barbara, California.
The couple’s £11million mansion is just up the road from the 20 large greenhouses full of the plants – leaving the luxury suburb reeking.
Neighbours made a string of complaints, sparking the company to install new “odour control systems.”
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One resident complained that the stench was so bad that they had to pull over while driving along the road.
It comes as the couple have yet to publicly congratulate the Queen as she celebrates her Platinum Jubilee.
The couple have remained silent – despite news that Camilla will become Queen Consort when Charles is eventually made King.
They do not use social media, and instead use their freedom from royal duties to champion a range of causes and businesses.
Updates on their lives are provided through their Archewell website.
The couple recently confirmed that “sources” will no longer speak for them – and they will only comment when they wish to through their official press team.
Despite the lack of public response, Harry is understood to have been enjoying video calls with his father over the past few weeks.
He is expected to return to the UK for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
However, it’s suggested he will not be accompanied by Meghan, Archie or Lilibet amid a row over the family’s security arrangements.
Harry will take the UK Government to court after being stripped of his private security detail when he made the decision to step back from the Royal Family.