Meghan Markle reveals the real reason why she didn't film her Netflix series inside her Montecito home

Daily Mail​

24-04-2025

The Duchess of Sussex has revealed the real reason why she didn't film her Netflix series inside her home.
Prior to release of With Love, Meghan, the mother-of-two promised viewers an intimate glimpse into life 'at home with Meghan' with 'wonder in every moment'.
Therefore, it came as surprise that the lifestyle show was not filmed in the Montecito-based mansion Meghan shares with her husband Prince Harry and their two children, Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.
Instead, the 43-year-old filmed the eight-episode series in a nearby £5 million estate nestled within a gated community and owned by Montecito's influential Cipolla family.
However, the duchess yesterday explained that she made the decision to protect her children's childhood during New York's Time100 Summit with Time CEO Jessica Sibley, according to Variety.
'When people say, 'Why didn't you [film in] your house?' Well, I have kids coming home from their nap, and 80 people in the kitchen isn't really the childhood memory I'd want for them to have,' she said.
Meghan continued, 'We were really fortunate to find something close by,' adding that the decision was a form self-care.
The idyllic filming location for the series boasts eight acres of avocado trees and lemon groves.
Owners Tom and Sherrie Cipolla, fixtures in the high society circles of the American Riviera, are both in their 70s. They are prominent philanthropists with a $20million (£15million) property portfolio.
Meghan previously touched on the confusion of why she didn't film the show inside her home in an interview with People, stating that she wanted to 'protect her safe haven'.
'We're a close-knit family, and I love those moments - putting Lili down for a nap, having lunch together, having sacred time together at the end of the day,' she continued.
The Duchess added, 'Our kitchen is where Mama just cooks for the family, and with a crew of 80-plus people, that's a lot of people to have in your house!'
Elsewhere during yesterday's Time100 Summit, Meghan revealed that her son Prince Archie is about to lose his first tooth - hours after the Princess of Wales released a birthday photo of Prince Louis featuring his 'gappy' grin.
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, took to the stage at the Time100 summit in New York City last night, where she discussed everything from her latest business ventures to how she handles hate.
During the intimate chat, the mother-of-two also opened up about her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
She candidly told the audience that her eldest has a loose tooth and is 'just about' to lose it this week, adding that she hopes she's back to California in time to see it.
'What we're going to put out during our next launch is equally as important to me as Archie getting his first [big] tooth this week,' she said. 'It's about to happen, I might get back just in time for it!'
Her comments came just hours after Kate released a photo of Prince Louis to celebrate his seventh birthday - notably featuring his adorable toothless smile.
The young Prince showed off his adorable gap-toothed smile, with royal fans rushing to social media to gush about how 'grown up' he looked.
Archie was just eight months old when his parents announced their plans to step back as senior royals in 2020, and subsequently moved to the US.
There, he and his sister Lilibet have grown up outside the public eye - and without contact with their cousins George, Charlotte and Louis back in the UK.
Meghan shared the exciting news while discussing how she balances being a mother and running her business.
She explained that not missing out on small moments with her kids was 'equally as important' as her job.
She added, 'Something that is seemingly so big somehow becomes so microscopic in importance compared to what's happening with my children.'
Earlier yesterday, Kate, 43, shared the sweet snap of her youngest son, pictured against a stunning spring backdrop, on the Prince and Princess of Wales's Kensington Royal social media accounts.
The photo, which showed Prince Louis without his front teeth, was captioned: 'Wishing Prince Louis a very Happy 7th Birthday!'
As he flashed his beaming smile to the camera, Prince Louis was dressed in a white and blue checked shirt, with a green jumper layered over the top and paired with jeans. His brunette hair is swept to the side.
The young royal was sitting among a stunning spring scene surrounded by bluebells, in the garden at Anmer Hall in Norfolk, the Wales family's residence on the Sandringham Estate.
Kate, who often takes her children's royal portraits herself as a keen photographer, broke from tradition as she shared the photo later in the morning of Louis's special day - whereas portraits have previously been released at midnight on each child's birthday.
In another twist, keen photographer Kate did not take the portrait of her youngest son. Instead it was taken by one of the family's preferred photographers, Josh Shinner, in Norfolk earlier this month.
Louis Arthur Charles Mountbatten-Windsor, the youngest of the Wales children, was born at St Mary's hospital in London on 23 April 2018.
As fourth in line to the throne, he has not grown up in the same spotlight as his older brother, Prince George - however the public appearances he does make consistently delight royal fans as his colourful personality shines through.
Fans have come to eagerly anticipate Louis's appearances on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, where his playful nature and comical facial expressions take centre stage as the family gathers to wave to the masses and watch special flypast demonstrations.
Similarly, his adorable goofy antics were highlighted in an emotive video released last September by the Wales family, as Kate announced she was 'cancer-free' and had completed her chemotherapy treatment.
After a difficult year for the family while the Princess of Wales underwent cancer treatment, it's thought that Louis has developed an ever stronger bond with his maternal grandparents, Carole and Mike Middleton.
The couple, parents to Kate, Pippa and James, have been a constant presence, helping to maintain a sense of normality for George, Charlotte and Louis.
Carole has frequently accompanied Kate on school drop-offs, while the children have enjoyed regular sleepovers at their grandparents' home as their mother recuperated.
When Kate released her emotional video message announcing she had completed her chemotherapy, her parents were seen in touching footage playing cards with the children - a glimpse into the support surrounding the family behind the scenes.
Louis's affection for his grandparents was also on display during last year's Westminster Abbey carol concert, where he was spotted holding a handwritten note that read: 'Thank you for granny and grandpa because they have played games with me.'
He added the note to the 'kindness tree', an initiative inviting guests to share messages of gratitude.