Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are preparing to spend more time in the UK with their children, but questions have been raised over how the couple will fund their lifestyle after years of expensive property purchases and changes to their commercial deals.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to return to Britain within the fortnight, with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, due to start at a British school next month.
Property portfolio and estimated wealth
The move comes despite the couple continuing to own their substantial home in Montecito, California, as well as a holiday property in Portugal. The Sussexes' combined net worth has been estimated at around £45 million, with their wealth understood to have come from inheritances, media agreements, publishing contracts and Meghan's business ventures.
Prince Harry is understood to have inherited around £10 million from his late mother, Princess Diana, when he turned 30. The couple are also reported to have received money from the Queen Mother's estate, although the precise details of the trust have never been made public.
When Meghan married Prince Harry in 2018, her personal fortune was estimated at around £4 million, largely built through her acting career, including her role as Rachel Zane in Suits.
Commercial deals and changing partnerships
Their financial position changed considerably after they stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to North America. They subsequently signed a number of major commercial agreements, while also investing heavily in property.
The couple paid around £11 million for their Montecito mansion, a nine-bedroom property set across more than five acres. The home includes a swimming pool, tennis court and guesthouse. According to US reports cited in the source material, mortgage payments, taxes, insurance and maintenance cost more than £450,000 a year. That figure does not include security costs, which have remained a major issue for the Sussexes since their departure from royal duties.
The couple also bought a holiday property in Portugal's exclusive CostaTerra development in 2023, reportedly paying around £6.3 million. The Portuguese property is close to the home of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank.
Income streams and future costs
Prince Harry and Meghan have generated significant income through their commercial ventures since leaving royal life, but some of their biggest partnerships have either ended or become less lucrative. The couple signed a reported £75 million, five-year agreement with Netflix, which produced the Harry & Meghan documentary series as well as Meghan's lifestyle programme With Love, Meghan. That original agreement has since expired and been replaced by a less lucrative arrangement, according to the source material.
Meghan's lifestyle brand, As Ever, was also launched with Netflix's involvement. The company sells products including jams, teas and baking mixes, but Netflix ended its relationship with the brand in March. The Sussexes also had a reported £15 million deal with Spotify signed in 2020. That partnership ended in 2023 after Meghan's Archetypes podcast produced one series and a Christmas special.
One of the couple's most successful publishing ventures has been Harry's memoir, Spare, which was released in January 2023. Prince Harry reportedly received a £16 million advance as part of a four-book deal worth around £32 million. The memoir sold more than 1.43 million copies on its first day across Britain, Canada and the US, making it a significant commercial success.
With the Sussexes no longer receiving money from the royal payroll and their commercial arrangements having changed in recent years, questions remain over how the couple will structure their finances as they spend more time in Britain. Their existing property commitments alone represent substantial ongoing costs, while another UK home would add further expenses. However, their estimated £45 million fortune, combined with income from publishing, media and business ventures, means the couple have significant assets and potential sources of income.
