Inside Meghan Markle’s ‘struggles’ with 9-bed, £12m home that needs running like ‘small boutique hotel’ with ’15 staff’
MANY people dream of living in a £12million home – like Meghan Markle and Prince Harry – but it actually comes with its “struggles”, according to a professional.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex splashed out on their nine-bedroom Montecito mansion after stepping back from royal life.
The sprawling 16-bath home is located in a star-studded enclave in California and sits on 5.4 acres of land.
Fit for royalty, it features a library, office, spa, gym, game room, wine cellar and five-car garage, it’s believed.
The estate also boasts sweeping lawns, tiered rose gardens, tall Italian cypress trees, blooming lavender, olive trees, a tennis court, tea house, children’s cottage and a pool.
There is even a chicken coop with “Archie’s Chick Inn”, which has rescue hens.
The couple, who live there with Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, three, have treated fans to glimpses of their multiple living spaces on several occasions – showing off a minimalist vibe.
‘BOUTIQUE HOTEL’
Despite the home sounding like a dream pad, it does come with a lot of work, according to Eric Bramlett, realtor and owner of Bramlett Residential in Austin, Texas.
Speaking to Fabulous, Eric shared: “Managing a $14million mansion like Harry and Meghan’s in Montecito takes a lot of work.
“Even for modern luxury homes that big, you need a good-sized staff and high operating costs.
“A house with 9 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, a pool, tennis court, and guesthouse probably needs around 10-15 full-time staff.
“That could include housekeepers, a house manager, private chef, and likely some security because they are famous.
“Just paying the staff salaries, utilities, landscaping, maintenance, security, and more could easily cost hundreds of thousands per year.
“Big renovations and repairs like roofing, HVAC, appliances would cost even more sometimes.”
He added that the grounds – including the pool, trees and tennis court – will require groundsmen and professional help.
Eric continued: “It’s like running a small boutique hotel with residential service.
“The costs pile up quick, but it comes with luxury living.
“Keeping a place this big properly staffed and maintained takes major money.”
HARRY’S WORTH
Thankfully, Prince Harry is thought to have an impressive net worth of about £48million, from inheritance and their various ventures.
Despite stepping down from being a working royal in 2020, it was rumoured he secured a $20m (£17m) advance from publisher Penguin Random House before the release of his memoir Spare.
The Sussexes also signed lucrative Netflix and Spotify deals after stepping back as royals, although the latter has since ended.
When did Meghan and Harry leave the royal family?
IN January 2020, the power couple announced they were officially stepping back from royal duties - to split their time between the UK and North America.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in their surprise statement: “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution.”
Meghan and Harry are now settled into their life in the US.
The couple are not short of star-studded company in Montecito, with a large number of famous and wealthy neighbours.
Meghan’s friend Oprah Winfrey is among those in the area, along with fellow chat show star Ellen DeGeneres.
In 1994, The Queen Mother put away around £19million into a trust fund for her great grandchildren – which includes William and Harry.
According to The Guardian, the brothers split £6million of this trust at age 21 and Harry took the majority of the money to “compensate for not becoming sovereign”.
When they reach 40 they reportedly get to split another £8million, but the other grandchildren, including Eugenie and Beatrice will get a few million pounds each.
As well as funds coming in from their great grandmother, Forbes reported that Princess Diana left her boys nearly £8million after taxes.
It was also set up that once William and Harry turned 25, they would start to receive around £340,000 a year.
MEGHAN’S HUSTLES
Before she tied the knot with Harry, Meghan was worth an estimated £3.5million, as a result of her role in American drama Suits.
She earned a reported £500,000 pay-check for her role as Rachel Zane in the legal drama.
Meghan is now about to launch her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, which could sell cookbooks, jams and homeware.