Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Aikman has offered a candid update on his relationship with his high-profile neighbors in Montecito, California: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Though they all reside in the same upscale coastal community, Aikman says he’s never crossed paths with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and given their different interests, he doesn’t expect that to change.
Aikman, now 58, recently spoke to Us Weekly while promoting his Eight Elite Light Beer. He humorously downplayed any potential friendship with Harry and Meghan:
“I haven’t run into them,” he 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.”
Later in the interview, he joked that the royal couple probably doesn’t share his taste in beverages:
“I don’t think they’re drinking much light beer.”
Aikman‘s jest reveals more about his laid-back approach to life than it does about any feud. The former NFL star has lived in Montecito since the 1990s and clearly values his long-standing ties to the region.
By contrast, Harry and Meghan moved there in 2020 after stepping back from their roles as senior royals.
While they’ve made concerted efforts to integrate, earning praise from locals like Sharon Stone for being “a giving, caring, participating part of our community,” some residents have voiced concerns about the couple’s presence sparking increased traffic, tourism, and real estate prices.
Yet Aikman‘s feelings seem to stem less from controversy and more from simple practicality and preference. Having never bumped into the royal pair in casual settings, and assuming they aren’t fans of his Eight Elite Light Beer, there’s little incentive for interaction. As he quipped to Page Six:
“I don’t think they don’t have anything in common [with me]. Not much.”
Montecito: old roots vs royal newcomers
Montecito has long been a magnet for celebrities, Natalie Portman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeff Bridges and Michael Keaton all call it home. Aikman, who first settled in the area in 1996, has been part of that tapestry for nearly three decades.
His occasional social media commentary, such as a 2022 X post about worn medians along Coast Village Road, reveals a personal investment in the community’s upkeep.
Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan have navigated both warm welcomes and criticism. Some neighbors, speaking to Vanity Fair and other outlets, have complained about “busier streets, increased housing prices and tourist traffic” since their arrival. .
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