Meghan Markle and Prince Harry STRUGGLE to manage sprawling £12m, 9-bed, 16-bath, 15 full-time-staffing mansion

After stepping back from their royal duties in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a grand investment: a sprawling nine-bedroom dream home in California. This luxurious mansion boasts every amenity imaginable, including a library, office, spa, gym, game room, wine cellar, and a remarkable 16 bathrooms!

Situated on 5.4 acres of land, the Sussexes’ estate is a haven for their family. Alongside six-year-old Prince Archie and three-year-old Princess Lilibet, they enjoy stunning gardens, a tennis court, a charming tea house, a children’s cottage, a pool, and a spacious five-car garage. However, maintaining this opulent lifestyle requires substantial effort and comes with a hefty price tag.

Eric Bramlett, a realtor and owner of luxury real estate company Bramlett Residential, sheds light on the financial and physical demands of managing a mansion like Harry and Meghan’s. Speaking to Fabulous, he explains, “Running a $14 million (£12 million) mansion in Montecito takes a lot of work.” The Sussexes’ home entails high operating costs, including salaries for 10-15 full-time staff members—housekeepers, a house manager, private chefs, groundsmen, and security personnel. Additionally, they must cover utilities, landscaping, maintenance, and security expenses, which can easily reach hundreds of thousands annually, excluding major renovations and repairs.

Despite these costs, the Sussexes need not worry about their finances. Reports indicate that their combined net worth stands at £48 million. Since relocating to the US, they’ve secured lucrative deals with Netflix, publisher Penguin Random House, and Spotify. Before joining the Royal Family, Meghan was already worth an estimated £3.5 million, thanks to her role as Rachel Zane in the hit legal drama series Suits, where she earned an impressive £37,000 per episode.

Meghan and Prince Harry have a playhouse in their garden for their kids

Prince Harry also enjoys financial stability. In 1994, The Queen Mother established a trust fund of £19 million for her great-grandchildren, including Harry and William. The brothers split £6 million from the trust when they turned 21, with Harry receiving a larger share as compensation for not becoming sovereign. Furthermore, Harry will gain access to more of the trust fund on his 40th birthday, thanks to the late Princess Diana’s legacy.

Meghan Markle knows getting Princess Kate on her side is ‘the only hope’ she can have

MEGHAN Markle is reported to have made “secret calls” to Kate Middleton in a bid to patch things up with the Royal Family.

The Duchess of Sussex is claimed to have reached out to her sister-in-law because she is her only chance of “smoothing things over” with the royals.

Meghan Markle has reportedly made secret calls to Kate Middleton to get her on sideCredit: Getty

Meghan and Harry have given a number of jaw-dropping interviews about their family in recent months, with Meghan now said to fear losing her title as a result.

A source told Heat Magazine: “Meghan’s fearful of losing her title, and the repercussions of Harry’s statements about the Royals in his recent Apple TV+ documentary with Oprah Winfrey.

“She’s secretly reached out to Kate, as she knows that the only hope they can have of smoothing things over with the family is to get Kate on their side.”

The source added that Kate would rather “stay out of any ‘secret talks’” as she fears “anything she says could be used against her”.

“But,” they noted, “she wants peace and civility, especially seeing how much pain this caused William, Charles and the Queen.

“Her only words of wisdom for Meghan and Harry are to stop once and for all with the public outbursts.”

Kate and Meghan watch the Women’s final at the Wimbledon Championships back in 2018Credit: Mega

It has been reported that Meghan believes Kate is her only shot at patching things up with the Royal FamilyCredit: PA

It comes after Meghan said in March during her interview with Oprah Winfrey that Kate made her cry.

She also spoke of how she grew to feel suicidal as a senior working royal – but wasn’t helped.

Last month, Harry echoed the claims in his Apple TV show The Me You Can’t See.

He said that when he and Meghan were struggling they were refused help from the Royal Family.

“Certainly now I will never be bullied into silence,” the duke said.

“I thought my family would help, but every single ask, request, warning, whatever it is, just got met with total silence, total neglect.

“We spent four years trying to make it work. We did everything that we possibly could to stay there and carry on doing the role and doing the job. But Meghan was struggling.”

On Sunday, the Royal Family offered their congratulations to Meghan and Harry following the birth of their baby daughter Lilibet Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said they were “delighted” with the new arrival and were rumoured to have sent the Sussexes a gift.

Meanwhile, experts have suggested Meghan and Harry’s decision to name their daughter after the Queen’s nickname offers an olive branch between them and the royals.

The Sun Online has approached Kensington Palace and representatives for Meghan for comment.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex opened up about their lives as royals with Oprah back in March

Prince Harry unexpectedly had his inheritance assets, including a mansion and cars worth $100m, ‘confiscated’ after daring to refuse King Charles

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle once had a hidden gem of a home in the UK, valued at an impressive £2.5 million, although it’s rarely discussed. Nestled in the picturesque Cotswolds, this enchanting property served as their temporary sanctuary while they awaited the completion of their beloved Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.

The Cotswolds abode was a charming Grade II listed house dating back to the 18th century, featuring three distinct structures. It included a main farmhouse, a delightful two-bedroom cottage for staff and guests, and a converted barn with two kitchens across its two floors. The main farmhouse boasted four luxurious bedrooms, one of which was rumored to be transformed into a lavish dressing room befitting royalty.

It was here that Harry and Meghan enjoyed tranquil walks with their beloved dogs and hosted intimate gatherings for their closest confidants, including star-studded guests like Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, and glamorous power couple George and Amal Clooney. Tennis legend Serena Williams and her partner Alexis Ohanian also graced the halls of this hidden haven.

Despite its allure, the Cotswolds property was only a temporary chapter in the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s story. Frogmore Cottage, situated in Windsor, was intended to be their permanent residence. However, circumstances led them to relocate across the Atlantic, closer to trendy spots like Soho Farmhouse and the luxurious country home of David and Victoria Beckham.

Unlike Frogmore Cottage, which held official status as a royal residence, the Cotswolds cottage lacked robust security measures and stood just 200 yards from the publicly accessible Long Walk. This proximity raised concerns about their cherished privacy.

Despite their affection for this idyllic countryside sanctuary, Harry and Meghan were forced to make a swift departure. Prince Harry expressed his disappointment in his memoir, “Spare the Prince,” recounting how their privacy was violated by intrusive paparazzi, even resorting to helicopters and telephoto lenses aimed at every window, including their intimate bedroom.

Meghan Markle will ‘no doubt’ overtake Kate Middleton in popularity

Rumours have been circulating that Meghan Markle is set to make a big return to Instagram, with one expert suggesting she could overtake Kate Middleton in terms of popularity

Meghan Markle has faced a tough few months recently, but things could be about to change for the Duchess of Sussex.

Speculation has been mounting that Meghan is set to return to Instagram and relaunch her popular blog The Tig, with one PR expert suggesting she could overtake her sister-in-law Kate Middleton when it comes to popularity. A recent survey showed Kate and her husband Prince William way out in front in terms of popularity among the public.

However, PR to the stars Mayah Riaz believes this will soon change. Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, she said: “It’s no doubt when Meghan re-joins Instagram she will overtake Kate in terms of popularity.

“Kate’s Instagram is curated with huge precision. There are things which Kate isn’t able to post.”

Kate Middleton seems to have a carefully curated Instagram ( Image: Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock)

Meghan Markle could rival her sister-in-law with a social media return (Image: Getty Images)

Mayah pointed out how it’s likely Kate has staff posting to social media on her behalf. The PR expert added: “Therefore, it paints a picture perfect life which the Royal Family are keen to portray.”

Meghan stepped down from the Royal Family three years ago, before moving to America with her husband Prince Harry. Mayah said this will allow Meghan to “post what she wishes”.

“She wont have to run it by anyone for approval before posting it,” Mayah explained. Speaking about what we could expect from Meghan’s Instagram, she added: “We can see all aspects of Meghan and her family life.”

Meghan could share content that Kate can’t ( Image:PA)

Mayah said Meghan is likely to grab widespread media attention with her Instagram account. She told us: “We don’t often see Kate’s Instagram posts making headlines. However, Meghan’s life on Instagram will lead to headlines. We can also expect to hear news of projects announced first on her Instagram.”

Meghan and Harry were recently spotted dancing the night away at Beyoncé’s concert in California. Mayah said: “We have seen footage of Meghan dancing at Beyoncé’s concert as well as public display of affection with Harry. We would never see Kate and William like this.

“This is why there will be day and night difference between Meghan and Kate’s Instagram. Let’s not forget, people who love to hate Meghan will bizarrely still follow Meghan’s Instagram.”

However, she warned Meghan could be targeted by online trolls. “We are more likely to believe that Meghan herself will be posting on her Instagram. This will lead to an explosion of followers very quickly when it’s confirmed that @meghan is her account.

“Along with the explosion of following, I fear that a lot of it will be trolling. We have seen the amount of hate directed her way on Twitter (X) and sadly, I think that will follow on Instagram too.”

George Clooney explains why he spoke out for Meghan Markle

George Clooney is once again speaking out against the “unjust” treatment his friend Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has received since joining the royal family.

“I’ve seen it when the press can turn on you for sort of ridiculous reasons and for almost nothing,” the actor said during an interview with the ITV program “Good Morning Britain” when he elaborated on comments he made defending the duchess last month.

“It seemed to be a little unjust since she hadn’t done anything except just happen to live her life.”

‘It seemed a little unjust, she hasn’t done anything except live her life – she’s a really kind, intelligent woman.’

George Clooney has told @GMB Meghan and Harry are a ‘fun couple’ and says Meghan’s treatment has been ‘a little unfair’.

More from our chat later in the show. pic.twitter.com/hEa46PleGf

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) March 15, 2019

The Oscar winner and wife Amal Clooney were guests at the wedding of the former Meghan Markle to Prince Harry last May at St. George’s Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle.

And Amal was a guest last month at Meghan’s baby shower in New York City.

George said Meghan doesn’t deserve the treatment she’s been subjected to and had nothing but praise for her and Harry.

“She’s a really kind and smart and intelligent young woman and they’re a really wonderful, loving couple,” he said. “Most of it you can just shrug off and not pay attention to, but sometimes it’s unkind.”

Clooney previously defended the duchess when he compared her treatment in the tabloids with the way the media had attacked the late Princess Diana, Harry’s mother.

“They’re just chasing Meghan Markle everywhere,” he told Australia’s Who magazine last month when asked about the duchess’s reported rift with her father.

“She has been pursued and vilified and chased in the same way that Diana was, and it’s history repeating itself,” Clooney said at the time. “We’ve seen how that ends.”

Diana died in 1997 at 36 following a car crash in Paris. Harry was 13 at the time.

“Good Morning Britain” also asked Clooney about his attendance earlier in the week at a Buckingham Palace dinner honoring a charity founded by Prince Charles.

George Clooney joked that Prince Charles is quite the party animal! The two, along with Amal Clooney, gathered at a Buckingham Dinner for The Prince’s Trust.Chris Jackson / Getty Images

Photos from the event show the Clooneys enjoying a lively conversation with the Prince of Wales.

“Charles got really crazy and started dancing on the tables,” Clooney joked. “I was surprised to see that.”

“I apologize for lying,” Meghan pleaded helplessly, begging Kate for forgiveness and permission to return to the royal family, accompanied by a special request.

Posted on June 20, 2024

Meghan Markle is reportedly eager to mend fences with Princess Kate and has extended an olive branch. According to sources, Meghan reached out to Kate before Trooping the Color, the official celebration of the King’s birthday, where Kate made her first public appearance since announcing a break from public duties due to her cancer diagnosis.

Sources reveal that Meghan and Prince Harry initiated contact with Kate in hopes of resolving their long-standing feud. This move comes after Harry addressed moments of discord between Kate and Meghan in his candid memoir released last year.

A close source shared, “Meghan is determined to be seen as the bigger person and put an end to this rift between them. Mending fences and portraying herself as a peacemaker can only enhance her public image. Despite their differences, Meghan genuinely empathizes with Kate and understands the challenges she must be facing.”

The insider continued, “Meghan has expressed her desire to move past the animosity and work towards healing for everyone involved. She is ready to let go of any lingering anger or bitterness. However, ultimately, the decision rests with Kate. All Meghan and Harry can do is continue to reach out and offer olive branches.”

The source added that Meghan hopes her sentiments will be conveyed to Princess Kate and that reconciling their relationship would bring immense relief to the Sussexes.

Reports suggest that Meghan and Kate’s relationship has been strained since Meghan was introduced to the royal family, with tensions escalating in the lead-up to Harry and Meghan’s wedding in May 2018. Allegedly, there was friction between Kate and Meghan over Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress, which reportedly led to a tearful episode for Meghan after a text message disagreement. Kate later sent flowers and an apology card to mend fences.

The rift between Prince William and Harry reportedly deepened in 2019 following a heated argument over Meghan, where Harry claimed his brother had physically confronted him. A year later, Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior royals and relocated to Montecito, California.

Express Online has reached out to representatives for Meghan and Kate for commen

Royal fans call for Meghan and Harry to return to the royal family but Princess Anne opposes

Amid Princess Anne’s increased royal duties, there’s growing chatter about Meghan and Prince Harry’s potential return to the fold.

As Princess Anne reportedly takes on 70% of the royal family’s duties, royal fans call for Meghan and Harry’s return to the royal family.

Princess Anne’s hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Recent reports indicate she’s been shouldering the lion’s share (70%) of royal responsibilities. The spike comes in the wake of King Charles and Kate Middleton stepping away from their royal duties as both grapple with health conditions and intense media scrutiny towards Kate for posting an ‘edited’ family image on Mother’s Day.

With her unwavering efforts, Princess Anne’s workload has exceeded that of her brother, King Charles. Princess Anne’s dedication to royal duties raises questions about the workload distribution within the royal family.

As Princess Anne’s workload increases, there’s a presumption about who will step up to share the burden. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s exit from the royal family left a gap that hasn’t been filled yet. Nevertheless, with the recent developments concerning Princess Anne’s responsibilities, some reason that it’s time for Harry and Meghan to rethink their decision. The calls for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to return to the UK gain voice to relieve these mounting workloads.

The Royal family’s official diary, from 18/03/2024 to 10/5/2024, has in it 55 public engagements that Princess Anne agreed to. Her day will be exhausting, as she is attending five events on the same day, and the remaining weekends suggest that the national tour means she also attended a trip to Scotland recently. The huge amount of her responsibilities is one of the pivotal reasons for people to get concerned about her mental health and the conversation of whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle should return to being working royals keeps on happening.

In total, the eight-week period in question lists 78 public royal engagements. The Duke and The Duchess of Edinburgh will jointly attend two of these. The breakdown of the engagements is as follows: The Princess Royal with 55, The Duchess of Edinburgh with 13, The Duke of Gloucester and The Duke of Edinburgh with four each, Birgitte, The Duchess of Gloucester with three, and The Queen with one.

The royal family is observing a break for the Easter holidays, with no engagements planned from Good Friday, March 29th, until April 5th. Kate is also set to return to royal duties after Easter.

The thought of Prince Harry and Meghan coming back into the royal family isn’t without its challenges. Questions about their roles, duties, and public perception would need to be handled. Furthermore, Prince Harry and Meghan have voiced their desire for financial independence and sovereignty. Returning to the royal fold could mean forfeiting some of the freedoms they’ve achieved since stepping back.

The couple’s place in the monarchy has come up again in the spotlight due of Princess Anne’s workload. Calls for Prince Harry and Meghan to return have been made, but will they follow their own course?

Meghan Markle: Lady Colin Campbell warns Duchess of Sussex not to ‘hustle her way to top’

MEGHAN MARKLE is still settling into her position within the royal family and Lady Colin Campbell wasted no time in giving the Duchess of Sussex some advice on today’s edition of Good Morning Britain.

Meghan Markle urged to ‘come up with a new act’ by Lady C

Good Morning Britain hosts Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard were joined by Lady Colin Campbell in the studio today.

While she was initially there to talk about her Celebs Go Dating debut, conversation quickly turned to her giving advice to Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex.

The Jamaican-born British writer and socialite has published three books about the British royal family and she made her thoughts on the newest royal very clear.

“I think the verdict’s out at the moment,” ITV viewers saw her tell the presenters.

“I’m rooting for Meghan, I hope Meghan is going to do as well as she appeared in the very early days that she would be doing.”

“I have to say, the ride has been rather rockier than one would have hoped,” she continued.

Ben then asked: “Do you think it will calm down now she is a mother?”

“I have an awful feeling that Meghan needs to understand things she doesn’t yet understand,” Lady C replied and Ben probed: “Like what?”

“Like there is a massive difference between being a celebrity, hustling your way from the bottom to the top, and she was a very proud hustler.

“She used to use the word hustle for herself and her first husband, very proudly.”

Meghan Markle: Lady Colin Campbell warns Duchess of Sussex not to ‘hustle her way to top’ (Image: ITV • GETTY)

Lady Colin went on to discuss the transition Meghan is making from Hollywood celebrity to Royal.

“And being a royal; you don’t hustle, the values, embodiment is completely different, she’s sorted, she’s got it, I think she needs to now embrace it and understand it’s a new game in town.

“She’s an actress, she needs to come up with a new act!” the socialite concluded.

Meghan celebrated her 38th birthday yesterday and Prince Harry took to their shared Instagram account with a message of celebration.

The post caption read: “Wishing HRH The Duchess of Sussex a very Happy Birthday.

GMB: Lady C gave her advice to Meghan (Image: ITV)

Meghan Markle was wished Happy Birthday by her husband on Instagram (Image: INSTAGRAM • SUSSEXROYAL)

I’m routing for Meghan.

Lady C on GMB today.

“‘Happy Birthday to my amazing wife. Thank you for joining me on this adventure!’ – Love, H.”

It comes after the Duchess revealed a project she had been secretly woking on for many months prior to the announcement.

Meghan was the Guest Editor for the September issue of British Vogue, where she chose a diverse selection of women to be the faces of the issue named: “Forces for Change”.

Elsewhere on Good Morning Britain, viewers tuned in to see the show debate whether or not images, pictures and photographs of the Queen are ‘offensive’, which was recently claimed by Lee Hegarty who won £10,000 compensation.

Prince William asked daughter Princess Charlotte how she felt snapping with NON-ROYALs; her answer melted hearts

It was a special Friday evening in London at Taylor Swift’s Eras tour concert, for a number of reasons. First off, the “Anti-Hero” singer marked the occasion of concert attendee Prince William’s 42nd birthday by taking a backstage selfie with him and two of his children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

But another very significant moment came out of the evening, when Swift shared a photo the next morning to her verified Instagram showing her and the royal family along with Swift’s boyfriend, American football star Travis Kelce.

 

The snap is the first photo of Kelce that Swift has ever shared to her main Instagram feed, which makes this their “Instagram official” post. “Happy Bday M8!” Swift wrote in the caption. “London shows are off to a splendid start.”

Kelce and Swift began dating last year, after the famed athlete revealed on a July episode of his podcast “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce” – which he co-hosts with his brother Jason Kelce – that he attempted to give Swift his phone number by way of a friendship bracelet during one of her concerts.

According to Swift in December, they quietly “started hanging out” right after that. And when Kelce along with this football team the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl earlier this year, Swift was in attendance and embraced Kelce on the field.

The official Instagram account of The Prince and Princess of Wales also posted a photo from the gathering, showing Swift in her sparkling pinstripe suit with her arm extended to take selfies of the group.

Swift performed the first of three shows at London’s Wembley Stadium on Friday. She then heads to Dublin, Ireland, at the end of this month for the next stop of the European leg of her Eras tour. She will return to London for five more shows in August.

Are Taylor Swift and Prince William friends?

Prince William and global popstar Taylor Swift have long been friends with each other ever since they shared the stage at Kensington Palace to perform ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’ with rock legend Jon Bon Jovi at a charity event in 2013.

Travis Kelce sneaks into Taylor Swift’s surprise photo with Prince William and his kids

William previously told how he obeyed Swift “like a puppy” when starring in the duet with the country-pop artist, after she urged him to join her on the stage.

“I turn up and Jon Bon Jovi and Taylor Swift are at the event, which nearly knocked me off my feet,” William said in 2021. “And then, I went inside, met everybody, a lot of handshaking to do those nights, a lot of chatting. I try and be charming and interactive.

“She puts her hand on my arm, looks me in the eye and says: ‘Come on, William – let’s go and sing.’”

Princess Charlotte’s reaction to snapping with Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce

Travis Kelce ‘sneaks’ into Taylor Swift’s surprise photo with Prince William and his kids… Prince William asked daughter Princess Charlotte how she felt snapping with NON-ROYALs; her answer melted hearts… She reportedly said, “Dad, we are all humans!”

King Charles finally reacted to Taylor Swift’s new Photos with Prince William

In a surprising turn of events, King Charles has finally reacted to the buzz surrounding Taylor Swift’s new photos with his son, Prince William.

The pictures, which captured a candid and cheerful moment between Swift and William during a recent event, quickly became the talk of social media.

King Charles addressed the attention with his characteristic wit, remarking on the delightful spirit of the images and the unexpected connection between the American pop star and the British royal.

He praised both for their ability to bring joy to the public, acknowledging how such moments of light-hearted interaction can bridge cultural divides.

The King’s comments added a royal stamp of approval to the friendly rapport between Swift and Prince William, further endearing both figures to their global fans.