Meghan Markle’s LA neighbors: ‘For us as African Americans we’re excited’

In the chichi Los Angeles suburb of View Park-Windsor Hills, residents welcomed news of the royal engagement – but took it all in their stride

Tiffini Reese beamed when told that a local woman was going to wed Prince Harry and in so doing shine a light on an area of Los Angeles known as the black Beverly Hills.

“Oh, that’s so sweet! I’m so happy for them.” Reese hesitated, then confessed. “I’ve no idea who that is. Is that the one with the red hair?”

Like many people in View Park-Windsor Hills on Monday, Reese, a 23-year-old office worker, was hazy on the British royal family, and had never heard of Meghan Markle, whose engagement to the prince was announced hours earlier.

Markle’s mother lived in the green-painted house across the street – a two-bedroom Spanish colonial style bungalow with a front yard of succulents and cacti – and the street was filling with photographers and camera crews, injecting some drama into early morning suburbia.

“If this makes things more hectic traffic-wise it’ll suck for joggers, but it’ll be cool for those who want to be in front of cameras,” said Reese.

To much of Britain, the engagement was front-page news. In View Park-Windsor Hills – a neighbourhood of mostly large houses with lawns, where the only sound in early morning besides traffic is sprinklers – residents welcomed news of the engagement, but took it in their stride.

Mike Young, 56, out walking his pitbull Tipper, said: “I think it’s awesome. It’s always beautiful when two people get together, in love.”

He had not known Prince Harry, 33, was dating Markle, 36, an actor from the TV series Suits, but approved the match. “I think they’re a respectable family,” he said, referring to the Windsors. “I’d be excited to meet Prince Harry.”

View Park-Windsor Hills is one of the wealthiest primarily African American areas in the US, and like the rest of LA is used to celebrity. The singer Ray Charles and the film-maker Charles Burnett grew up here. When Barack Obama visits…

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