Harry and Meghan’s California community plagued by ‘sonic booms’ thanks to Elon Musk

Prince Harry and California community is said to be “plagued” with sonic booms thanks to ’s SpaceX.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex quit the United Kingdom and moved to their 13-bedroom property in the gated Montecito in 2020. The £12 million home features a spa, swimming pool, cellar, and cinema.

And while it would appear to be the perfect retreat to raise your young family as you try to embrace life as an “ordinary couple,” it would seem not everyone in the community is happy. One person took to an online community noticeboard to criticise the noise impact from the world’s richest man’s space company.

Musk’s SpaceX regularly launches from its Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) in California, reports the Daily Mail. The space exploration company has two launchpads at the West Coast base.

The second was leased to the company by the United States Space Force in 2023. It will be used for launching the firm’s Falcon 9 rockets later this year followed by the Falcon Heavy.

One annoyed Californian said: “Enough! Let’s stop the disruptive arrogant sonic booms at night! This insane frequency and quantity needs regulation, it’s just terrible. I could hear the house creaking.”

They are one of 1,300 people who have signed a petition calling for more regulation and demanding SpaceX not increase the number of launches per year from 36 to 50. The petition states: “The booms from rocket launches disrupt sleep patterns, elevates stress levels, and erode the overall quality of life for residents living near launch sites. Sensitive wildlife may also be disoriented by these sudden, intense sounds.”

One concerned local called for alerts for people living near to the base. They said: “The unexpected, sporadic, frequent booms at all hours completely disrupt our household and our peace of mind. Everyone in the house – including all humans and pets – reacts with anxiousness and fear every time.“

Built in 1941, the VSFB is located around 60 miles from Montecito. According to Change.org, a majority of the 1,300 people to sign the petition are based around the Santa Barbara and California area – including where the Sussexes’ gated community is located.

Harry and Meghan aren’t the only famous faces to call the luxurious community their home either. Their neighbours are said to include Oprah Winfrey, Rob Lowe, and Gwyneth Paltrow.

SpaceX has been approached for a comment. The firm is said to be currently locked in a dispute with the California Coastal Commission, which blocked the move to increase take-offs.

The commission, which oversees the use of land and water along California’s coastline, ruled that commercial space launches are not federal government activity and that any changes would have to be applied for. SpaceX reportedly accused the commission of holding a political bias against Musk and said the launches had “no significant effects on coastal resources”.