Fresh speculation suggests that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may be under increasing financial pressure, which may ultimately make them reconsider their luxurious Montecito lifestyle.
Commentators have claimed the couple’s ability to cash in on their royal connection has weakened, prompting rumors of a possible downsizing and even a return to playing for Meghan.
Since stepping back from royal duties, they have relied on media deals, speaking engagements and Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand while raising their children privately in California.
Harry and Meghan may eventually scale back their California lifestyle if financial pressures continue to mount, a new report claims.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex bought their sprawling Montecito estate for around $14 million in 2020 after stepping down from their roles as senior members of the British royal family.
The estate has since served as the family’s home, where they live with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
But commentator and columnist Maureen Callahan recently claimed that rumors are circulating about the couple’s ability to comfortably maintain the costs associated with the luxury property.
Speaking on “The Royals Uncensored” podcast, Callahan suggested that Harry and Meghan have found it increasingly difficult to generate income from the public fascination surrounding their royal connections.
“They have a lot of problems making money from what they used to make money from, which is their connection to the royal family, which were secrets in the royal family,” the expert noted, per The Express.
According to Callahan, much of the interest that initially fueled their commercial ventures was tied to revelations about royal life, but that source of attention may now be fading. As a result, she said there is increasing speculation that the Sussexes could eventually consider moving to a cheaper home.
“The information supply has been choked. So the stories are that they may have to downsize from that $14 million Montecito mansion,” Callahan added.
The Duchess faces scrutiny over career change and debate over pricing of luxury brands
Callahan also referred to reports indicating Meghan may be exploring a return to acting, a profession she left behind before marrying Harry in 2018.
The expert described the move as a notable shift from the direction Meghan appeared to be pursuing in recent years.
Since moving to the US, Harry and Meghan have signed major media deals, including partnerships with Netflix and Spotify, while also launching podcasts and taking part in high-profile speaking engagements. Recently, Meghan has focused much of her attention on her lifestyle company, As Ever.
The brand, which offers products ranging from preserves and candles to decorative food items, has attracted both interest and criticism. A resurfaced interview from 2016 recently reignited debate online following Meghan’s earlier comments about avoiding expensive products on her former lifestyle platform, “The Tig.”
At the time, Meghan emphasized creating content and recommendations that felt attainable rather than exclusive. Critics later pointed to premium-priced items sold through As Ever, including candle gift sets that cost over $100, and argued that the approach appears to be at odds with her previous messages.
Prince Harry and Meghan may return with their children to the UK in July
Speculation about Harry and Meghan’s financial problems comes amid a BBC reports that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to return to the UK with their children in July.
The trip will mark the first time in four years that Harry will have his wife and children with him in the country.
The last time Meghan and her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, were in the UK with Harry was to attend the late Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee celebrations.
However, since then, the children in particular have remained in California, likely due to Harry’s safety concerns after his and Meghan’s royal protection was withdrawn due to them no longer being royals.
Meghan Markle shared a heartfelt birthday tribute for Princess Lilibet’s fifth birthday
Separately, Meghan recently marked a personal milestone by celebrating her daughter Princess Lilibet’s fifth birthday with a heartfelt Instagram post shared on June 4.
To celebrate Lilibet turning five, the Duchess of Sussex posted a series of family photos that gave a rare insight into their private lives. One photo captured Harry holding his daughter as Meghan looked on with a smile, while another showed the young princess strolling barefoot through the garden of the family’s Californian home.
In both pictures, Lilibet wore a bright embroidered sundress and her signature red hair flowed freely, a trait she inherited from her father, Prince Harry. “Our dream girl. Happy 5th birthday, Lili,” Meghan wrote in the caption accompanying the post.
Harry and Meghan welcomed their first child, Prince Archie, in May 2019 while living in the UK. Since moving to California, the couple have largely kept their children out of the public eye, although Meghan has occasionally shared family moments through her personal Instagram account, which she launched in 2025.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle share rare glimpses of family life in California
Among the latest glimpses was a family trip to Disneyland where they reportedly celebrated the children’s birthdays together.
Lilibet also made a brief appearance on Meghan’s social media in May, when the duchess posted a photo as she prepared for a trip to Switzerland. Referring to her daughter as “Mama’s little helper”, Meghan shared a sweet moment that highlighted their close bond.
Balancing family life with their various charitable and business ventures, Harry and Meghan have continued to prioritize lifting Archie and Lilibet away from intense public scrutiny.
Speaking about her family in a previous interview, Meghan explained that despite their unique circumstances, she hopes people see them as parents who strive to give their children a normal and grounded upbringing.
