When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle exited the Royal family and moved to the US, I remember Harry saying he’d wanted to move so that it would be more “liberating” for his family. He and his wife have had a tenuous relationship with the press, and he’s returned a few times as part of a fight against the outlet The Daily Mail in a court case he and others ultimately lost. Despite this setback, rumor has it the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are moving back home, and reports are coming down the pipeline it may be related to their business ventures.
They’ve Allegedly Had A Lot Of Money Going Out In Recent Years
A new report is allegedly shedding some light on the financials of the former Royals. An insider told Page Six that cash flow may be a main reason for the family to return to the UK.
I am sure there are a lot of reasons [for the move], but I do think cash is a big one.
That insider also specifically cited some big expenses in California, noting the couple has taken out two mortgages on their $14.5 million home in Montecito. They reportedly pay around $3 million a year just for security, a hot button topic that has come up quite a lot for the couple as the Royal family has not provided security when they return to the UK.
They have a vacation home in Portugal. A household staff, though the outlet also reports that number has dwindled from more than a dozen to around four. Meghan reportedly drives a Land Rover that retails for $140,000, amidst owning other vehicles.
Beyond the simple cost of living in Montecito, Harry and Meghan’s ventures have largely not done so well. Their relationship with Netflix has reportedly soured in recent months, and the streaming service even pulled out of her jam brand As Ever. Her show, With Love, Meghan was canceled after viewership dwindled in Season 2. Their attempt at a big screen venture, Cookie Queens, also landed in the headlines after flopping at the box office this month.
Then, just to touch again on the situation with the lawsuit filed against the Daily Mail, Prince Harry and other high-profile names (including Elton John), lost a lawsuit against the news outlet. Just this week, news broke they’ll have to pay around £9.5 million (or around $13 million USD) in reparations to cover The Daily Mail’s legal costs after losing in court. This is only the first payment, and not the full total that will ultimately be required to be paid, as well (via CNN). Though the initial amount is certainly a hefty sum on its own.
No, Harry And Meghan Are Reportedly Not “Running Out Of Money”
We don’t know the couple’s reasons for slashing staff etc, but with a move across the pond potentially looming, there could be more than one reason they are looking to make changes. In fact, other insiders stressed the situation is absolutely not in dire straits in any way, shape or form. Insiders stressed firmly that “they are not out of money,” also saying Prince Harry had inherited plenty not withstanding the revenue they’ve had coming in.
They had more money than most even before Megxit!
That insider stressed that despite Netflix pulling out, As Ever is allegedly doing well (though some reports claim otherwise), and of course, the couple made a reported $100 million from their initial deals, which include things like the Netflix contract the streamer reportedly got the raw end of the deal on and Prince Harry’s book deal. (Spare was a viral hit when it came out in 2023.)
I think it’s probably safe to guess Meghan and Harry’s foray to the US six years ago hasn’t played out exactly how they hoped. If their business ventures had worked out differently, I can imagine an alternate timeline somewhere out in the universe where The Duchess of Sussex made a name for herself in a way similar to what Gwyneth Paltrow or Martha Stewart (though she has some thoughts on that) did. What their next chapter will be is yet anyone’s guess.
