Prince Harry and Meghan have faced mounting financial scrutiny since stepping away from their senior royal roles in 2020, with recent reports describing their money situation as increasingly difficult to navigate. The couple, who relocated to Montecito, California, have watched some of their major commercial ventures wind down while continuing to fund a high-profile charitable operation. Here is what the available information reveals about their current financial reality.
The Royal Exit and Its Financial Consequences
When Harry and Meghan announced their intention to step back from official royal duties in early 2020, they also walked away from the arrangements that had funded much of their public work. The Sovereign Grant, which supports royal operations and had covered their official travel and staffing costs, no longer flows to the couple. Harry also stepped down from a number of royal military appointments, severing connections that had provided both prestige and financial support.
The loss of these income streams forced the couple to become more dependent on private revenue sources. Their move to the United States meant establishing new financial foundations entirely separate from the Royal Household structures that had governed their lives since birth.
Commercial Partnerships and Their Uncertain Trajectory
The couple pursued several high-profile commercial deals in the years after their departure. A multi-year partnership with Spotify, announced in 2020, ended in 2023 after the streaming platform and Archewell Productions mutually agreed to part ways. Earlier, they had signed a production deal with Netflix reportedly worth tens of millions of dollars, though that arrangement also concluded without the fanfare that accompanied its announcement.
Archewell, their multimedia company founded in 2021, was intended to house these ventures and generate revenue through documentary production, podcast content, and other media projects. The company continues to operate, though the loss of both major streaming partnerships represents a significant shift in their commercial outlook.
The Cost of Security and Relocation
Residing in Montecito places the couple in one of California's most expensive communities. Their estate reportedly includes multiple properties, and maintaining privacy and safety for a family that has attracted global attention requires substantial security arrangements. Harry has been vocal about his efforts to ensure his family receives adequate protection, including legal proceedings regarding security decisions.
The couple's two children, Archie and Lilibet, have been raised largely out of the public eye in California, away from the security infrastructure that had surrounded them during their time in the United Kingdom. The cost of replicating that protection privately adds considerably to their annual expenses.
Charitable Operations and Donor Reliance
The Archewell Foundation, their charitable arm, operates various programs focused on digital wellbeing, media literacy, and support for communities affected by conflict. Maintaining a foundation of this scale requires sustained funding, typically drawn from a combination of private wealth and external donations.
Financial disclosures for charitable organisations offer limited public insight into their complete funding picture. The foundation has reported revenue and expenditure figures in regulatory filings, though the full details of how these operations are funded remain private.
Harry's Inheritance and Remaining Ties to the Royal Family
Harry inherited a substantial sum from his mother, Princess Diana, upon reaching adulthood. Reports have suggested this inheritance, combined with his late mother's estate provisions, provided him with independent wealth before he met Meghan. The extent to which these funds continue to support the couple's current lifestyle remains unclear from publicly available information.
Harry has also inherited land at Kensington Palace from his mother, though he reportedly does not currently reside there. The properties represent an ongoing connection to his family inheritance even as his relationship with other royals has grown complicated.
What Comes Next
The couple has shown adaptability in their professional pursuits, but the landscape has shifted considerably since their 2020 departure. With both major streaming deals concluded and their charitable operations requiring ongoing funding, they face the task of rebuilding commercial relationships in a media environment that has grown less hospitable to celebrity content.
Harry is expected to publish a second memoir, following the 2023 release of Spare, which could provide additional insight into his perspective on these financial matters. Whether that book alters public perception of their situation remains to be seen. Watch for further developments in their professional ventures as the couple charts a path forward in increasingly uncertain financial terrain.
Reports have suggested this inheritance, combined with his late mother's estate provisions, provided him with independent wealth before he met Meghan. With both major streaming deals concluded and their charitable operations requiring ongoing funding, they face the task of rebuilding commercial relationships in a media environment that has grown less hospitable to celebrity content.
