Meghan Markle and Harry divide Florida residents

It’s a mere 38 hours away from Montecito and it’s fair to say that with thousands of miles between them, there’s not much love lost between the world of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the sunshine state Florida.They feel a long, long way away in California. This is the place that used to be known as God’s Waiting Room, where retired Americans went to while away their final years on the planet beneath azure cloudless skies and tropical temperatures.The former royal couple live in a £11.4million ($13million) mansion in an exclusive gated community. The properties in Tampa Bay are impressive too, but lack the Californian cachet.On a broadwalk in St Pete’s, Steve Boldt, who is retired but not old, was tying up his boat after docking in St Pete’s on a glorious afternoon. Florida residents divided as Meghan and Harry are ‘US royals now’ (Image: GETTY)He told Express.co.uk: “Prince Harry and Meghan appear to be less relevant to people in Great Britain now. I don’t have a strong opinion on them, but I think the Royal Family is changing because of them. I am reluctant to say whether I think it is moving in a positive direction, as I don’t know.”However, I am a big supporter of King Charles and like everything he has said so far since being on the throne.”He’s concerned for the environment, which interests me and he seems to be motivated by genuine principles. I feel, too, that Harry is authentic probably, too.”I’m not as convinced that Meghan Markle’s such a good influence on him.”Mr Boldt believes Prince Harry and his older brother Prince William are ok after their mother’s death 25 years ago as “both boys now appear pretty confident men.” Steve Boldt said he is a ‘big supporter’ of King Charles (Image: Express)Rene Prine, 52, who works in hospitality, said she likes Prince Harry and Meghan. “I was really very happy when they got together,” she explained.”I felt they are really honest as a couple but that they had a tough time in London. I feel I kind of believe everything Meghan said in the Oprah interview. They seem very kind people – or that’s how they come across. I understand why they wanted to get out of the Royal Family.”I do like them and feel, like many Americans, to us they are like royalty.”Referencing claims made by Meghan in her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, Rene continued: “Anything that’s written about them I find fascinating. It was tough for them because of racial things and because they were asked about the baby’s skin colour. They quit their royal roles because they wanted to get freedom and that’s probably what Harry always wanted.”Meghan definitely didn’t know what she was getting into when she was married.” Rene Prine (Image: Express)Young mum Mackenzie Cormerer, 32, has quite strong views against the grain of the other residents.”I’ve lived on St Pete’s for five-and-a-half years and grew up on the East Coast of Florida. They used to nickname it God’s Waiting Room here,” she said.”But it’s had a renaissance. Now I like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in lots of ways.”I loved the royals and felt so good and excited that Meghan was joining the family. But soon it felt as if she wanted to have her cake and eat it.”I don’t love Meghan Markle. I feel like she’s a bit whiny and not the most genuine person. I really don’t like the Archetypes podcast and would never want to listen to it.”From what I’ve heard from friends, it’s really bad. She talks about female empowerment but I’ve just heard it is not much good.” Mackenzie Cormerer (Image: Express)Mackenzie describes the “brouhaha” Meghan has created since leaving the Royal Family and added: “Harry is lovely. I don’t think Meghan’s my favourite, though.”And as a new mum, she said people ask about what the baby will look like.”We are both white but everyone speculated what the baby would look like. I feel this is genuine curiosity – not racism.”And despite her reservations, she cannot wait for the publication of Spare and will read it when it is released on January 10, 2023.On the pier, Aspen Jewel, 25, director of Operations at Elevate Holistics sits in the sun reading a book. She loves Prince Harry and Meghan.”They are just such a good-looking, classy couple who are elegant people,” she says with a smile. “When I listen to their podcast, Archetypes, I think everything seems too beautiful and unrealistic.”I do think they have put on a show, though. I understand that everything they do is in the public eye. And I think there’s racism and a certain type of stereotype that they refused to follow.”It’s as if they were kicked out and I feel they are America’s royals right now. They are the closest thing we’ve got to royalty in America and the are more celebrities, or influencers, really. They are so cute, though.”Taxi driver Gustav, driving an Uber to a party says he’s not interested in Harry and Meghan. A Bolivian immigrant, he cares more about immigration.An irony not lost on him. “They are their own people, I’m my own person,” he states philosophically. “I don’t think about them and they don’t mean anything to me.”Many Americans, and some Brits, would agree. Aspen Jewel thinks Harry and Meghan ‘are America’s royals right now’ (Image: Express)