Prince Harry And Meghan Welcome Fire-Displaced Victims Into Their $29M Montecito Mansion

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have opened the doors of their luxurious Montecito mansion to friends and loved ones affected by the devastating L.A. fires.

The U.S.-based royals broke their silence on the disaster, asking people to "check in" on disabled people and the elderly who might need help with evacuation and calling for donations to the American Red Cross Society.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Montecito home has also been placed on "red alert," as the couple risk losing power.

According to The Telegraph, Harry and Meghan have opened up the doors to their $29 million Montecito mansion to friends and loved ones affected by the ravaging fires in Southern California.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex live about 90 miles north of the Los Angeles area in the Santa Barbara enclave and are not under evacuation as their community wasn't directly affected by the wildfires.

Harry and Meghan are well known for their philanthropic efforts through their Archewell Foundation, which has the motto to "show up, do good."

That is precisely what they have done, as the news outlet reports that the couple "have contributed clothing, children's items and other essential supplies to those affected by the fires."

Harry and Meghan are also reportedly working with members of their Archewell Foundation to determine the best way to support the community. They have already donated to relief efforts through their foundation.

Harry and Meghan's kind gesture comes after they shared a statement on their Sussex.com website expressing their concern and calling for support for those affected by the disaster.

In their message, the couple made a plea urging people to "check in" on disabled and elderly neighbors while sharing links to several charities they've worked with in the past.

"In the last few days, wildfires in Southern California have raged through neighborhoods and devastated families, homes, schools, medical care centers, and so much more – affecting tens of thousands from all walks of life," the statement began.

"A state of emergency has been issued," the couple continued, going on to share "some resources and ideas" for those who feel "compelled to help."

"If a friend, loved one, or pet has to evacuate and you are able to offer them a safe haven in your home, please do. And be sure to check in with any disabled or elderly neighbors to see if they need help evacuating," the former working royals added.

Harry and Meghan also used their platform to call for donations to help alleviate the pain and stress the fire-displaced people are undoubtedly experiencing.

"Some families and people have been left with nothing. Please consider donating clothing, children's toys & clothing, and other essentials. The American Red Cross is on the ground helping those in need," the statement read.

Meanwhile, the couple is seemingly going all out to lessen the impact of the damage. 

The Telegraph reports that they've been in contact with chef José Andrés and are working with his World Central Kitchen organization, which supplies meals to communities during natural disasters.

The former working royals also plan to seek opportunities to volunteer through their foundation as recovery efforts continue, especially in the area of mental health support recovery.

The couple may have to improvise or seek out alternative means to power their Montecito home as the fire threatens a complete power outage in their community.

According to the Daily Mail, local electricity provider Southern California Edison is considering a "Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS)" in parts of Santa Barbara County due to a "red flag" warning and an increased risk of the fire.

Residents in the neighboring counties, including Montecito, where Harry and Meghan live, have been contacted to prepare for impact as the PSPS could affect 4,172 customers in Santa Barbara County and other regions.

The power outage could hamper their chances of getting information over the Internet or cable. The damaging fires have wreaked havoc in their wake, razing as many as 5,300 structures, including homes, buildings, and cars, as well as forcing hundreds of thousands of Angelenos to be evacuated.

The wildfires raging across Los Angeles come after it was revealed that the Sussexes' luxurious nine-bedroom estate in Montecito had doubled in value since they purchased it in 2020.

According to the Daily Mail, the property was initially bought for $14.65 million, but its value has soared to over $29 million.

The Montecito mansion, known as "The Chateau," is a breathtaking property built in 200r, which sits on 5.4 acres of lush gardens with stunning sea views and has been described as a "hidden paradise."

Bordered by impeccably manicured hedges, the grand stone-pillared gates open to a lane paved with hand-cut Santa Barbara stone, leading through an archway of trees to the main house.

The stunning estate reportedly took nearly five years to complete and features luxurious amenities, including a library, office, spa with dry and wet saunas, gym, game room, arcade, theater, wine cellar, and five-car garage.

Additionally, the property boasts sweeping lawns, tiered rose gardens, century-old olive trees, tall Italian cypresses, lavender fields, a tennis court, a tea house, a children's cottage, a pool, and a two-bedroom guest house.