Fresh speculation suggests that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may be under increasing financial pressure, which could eventually lead them to reconsider their luxurious Montecito lifestyle.
Commentators have claimed the couple’s ability to monetize their royal connection is weakening, prompting rumors of a possible downsizing and even a return to acting for Meghan.
Since stepping back from royal duties, they’ve 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 lifestyle in California if financial pressures continue to mount, a new report claims.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex purchased their sprawling Montecito property for around $14 million in 2020 after stepping away 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.
However, commentator and columnist Maureen Callahan recently claimed that rumors are circulating about the couple’s ability to comfortably sustain 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 are having a lot of trouble monetizing what they used to monetize, which is their connection to the royal family, which was secrets of 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 growing speculation that the Sussexes could eventually consider moving to a less expensive home.
“The information supply has been choked off. So the stories are that they may need to downsize from that $14m Montecito mansion,” Callahan added.
The Duchess Faces Scrutiny Over Career Shift And Luxury Brand Pricing Debate
Callahan also referenced reports indicating that 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 relocating to the United States, Harry and Meghan have signed major media deals, including partnerships with Netflix and Spotify, while also launching podcasts and participating in high-profile speaking engagements. More 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 2016 interview recently reignited debate online after 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 costing over $100, arguing that the approach appears at odds with her previous messaging.
Prince Harry And Meghan Might Be Making A UK Return With Their Kids In July
Speculations about Harry and Meghan’s financial troubles come amid a BBC report that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to make a major return to the UK with their kids this July.
The trip will mark the first time in four years that Harry will have his wife and kids with him in the country.
The last time Meghan and her kids, 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, especially, have remained in California, likely due to Harry’s security concerns after his and Meghan’s royal protections were stripped due to them no longer being working 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 offered a rare glimpse into their private life. One image captured Harry holding his daughter while Meghan looked on with a smile, while another showed the young princess strolling barefoot through the gardens of the family’s California home.
In both photos, Lilibet wore a light embroidered sundress, and her distinctive red hair flowed freely, a feature 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 United Kingdom. Since relocating to California, the couple has largely kept their children out of the public eye, though 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 those recent 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 while preparing 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 raising 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 striving to give their children a normal and grounded upbringing.
