A man suspected of stalking Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was arrested outside the couple’s Montecito, California home early Monday morning. 

Kevin Garcia Valdovinos, 29, was detained by the mansion’s security team who made a citizen’s arrest shortly after noticing his suspicious behavior. The incident unfolded around 2 am on Monday, May 15. The security team promptly alerted the Santa Barbara Police Department about the situation, which responded swiftly, taking Valdovinos into custody. 

Subsequently, Valdovinos was charged with misdemeanor stalking by the local authorities and released on a $2,500 bail. Alarmingly, this was not his first brush with the law over similar charges, exacerbating concerns about the safety of the high-profile couple.

It is currently unclear whether the Sussexes were at home during the time of the intrusion. Harry, Meghan, and their children were in New York City on Tuesday for a charity event. 

Harry and Meghan have been calling Montecito their home since 2020, having purchased the sprawling 5.4-acre property, boasting an 18,000-square-foot mansion, for $14.5 million.

Security issues have proven to be a recurring concern for the royal couple. Over the past year alone, law enforcement had to be summoned nine times to their mansion, with the alarm system going off five times. The gravity of their security situation was brought to light during a candid interview with Oprah Winfrey, where they revealed their financial support from Buckingham Palace had been withdrawn after they relinquished their senior royal roles.

Harry and Meghan have ensured their safety by capitalizing on their international fame. They fund their security measures through their lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify, estimated at $100 million and $25 million, respectively. In addition, Harry’s memoir, “Spare,” has contributed significantly to their financial cushion, earning him $20 million and breaking records as the fastest-selling non-fiction book on its release day. Despite their financial security, the potential of a home security breach underlines the perpetual risks they encounter in their daily lives.