Maintaining Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s California mansion will cost the couple hundreds of thousands of pounds every year to upkeep, it has been claimed. Set on over five acres of land, the estate where they live in Montecito with Prince Archie, six and Princess Lilibet, three, is surrounded by gardens, a pool, and a tennis court.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex eventually relocated to Los Angeles after stepping down as senior working royals in 2020 and cutting ties with the Firm.
Owner of luxury real estate company Bramlett Residential, Eric Bramlett explained the toll it takes to run a luxury pad. Speaking to Fabulous Magazine, he said: “Managing a $14 million (£12 million) mansion like Harry and Meghan’s in Montecito takes a lot of work.”
Eric explained upkeep would come with “high-operating costs” and require about “10-15” staff members including private chefs, groundsmen, security, and housekeepers. This is despite utility bills and renovation repairs.
Eric explained further: “It’s like running a small boutique hotel with residential service. The costs pile up quick, but it comes with luxury living.”
Over the years the Hollywood couple have voiced their hopes of keeping their family life out of the public eye and have seemingly succeeded with the intensely private estate on an 18,000-square-foot property surrounded by trees and greenery.
According to Page Six, the lavish home features nine bedrooms and 16 bathrooms, all imbued with a combination of modern and Victorian architectural elements for the family of four. There is even a chicken coop in the gardens with “Archie’s Chick Inn”, which has rescue hens.
It also featured a stone fireplace with metal doors emblazoned with majestic filigree and a number of bright green house plants of various sizes and species that get plenty of natural light through the tall windows and round-top French doors.
Fans have actually seen a handful of candid looks at the interior of the celebrity couples’ luxury abode in home videos and photos they shared during their Netflix documentary.
However, the megamansion was not the same home that provided a backdrop for their controversial bombshell docuseries ‘Harry & Meghan’ in 2022.
Hello! Magazine reported that the couple opted to film the sit-down segments of the series at a different, but almost more lavish, estate just 11 minutes away from their home. The dazzling property they filmed in was reportedly on the market at the time for $33 million (£26 million) and boasts a pool, spa, private gym and crystal chandeliers.
Thankfully, Prince Harry is thought to have an impressive net worth of about £48million, from inheritance and their various ventures.
The Sussexes also signed lucrative Netflix and Spotify deals after stepping back as royals, although the latter has since ended.
