Financial strain inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Montecito household is intensifying as sources claim their U.S.-based income stream is failing to keep pace with the couple's costly lifestyle. The pressure has reportedly led Prince Harry to urge Meghan to "STOP SPENDING!" as streaming and media deals diminish and the couple confronts the economic realities of life without royal funding. The reported tensions come as both the Duchess's luxury spending and the Duke's new commercial appearances draw scrutiny from royal commentators in London and the United States.
The escalating concerns echo complaints that began years earlier. Royal commentator Camilla Tominey of The Telegraph reported that Queen Elizabeth II "hit the roof" when Meghan commissioned a bespoke Dior gown estimated at $121,300 for the couple's 2019 Morocco tour. Tominey wrote that after receiving a call from Prince Harry, the late Queen allegedly reacted with "more money" while rolling her eyes-an anecdote cited as evidence of her discomfort with what she perceived as excessive requests for royal financial support.
The couple's financial pressures today appear to stem from the overhead associated with their $21 million Montecito estate, combined with what sources described to Woman's Day Australia as an estimated $4 million annual security bill. Additional expenses linked to childcare, staff, and private school tuition reportedly contribute to money "pouring out" of their accounts, even as the earnings from their earlier media deals slow.
Those reports suggest Prince Harry is now pressing for restraint. One source told the outlet that he has asked Meghan to "curb her spending" and refocus on consistent commercial work. He is also said to be determined to avoid drawing from the inheritance left by his late mother and great-grandmother, with sources describing his view that he "doesn't see why he should have to, considering all the money they've earned."
Meghan, however, is reportedly resisting that shift in priorities, arguing that her strategy is essential to building the brand she has long envisioned. She has been described by sources as believing "they need to spend money to make more," and insisting that high-profile appearances-from Paris Fashion Week to Kris Jenner's 70th birthday-serve as visibility-building investments. One source quoted her position that Harry must "bring home the bacon!" if he expects to match her drive for expansion.
That divide is becoming visible in the professional paths the couple is choosing. Prince Harry's recent appearance at a Canadian real-estate conference-an event focused on Ontario housing policy-drew pointed commentary from royal analysts. Writer Tom Sykes called the appearance "a sadder symbol of Prince Harry's slide from global change-maker to rent-a-prince," citing the commercial nature of the gathering.
Meanwhile, Meghan's return to entertainment has not progressed as expected. Her Netflix lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, "hasn't been as successful as she hoped," prompting her, according to sources, to consider acting roles more seriously. One source said her acceptance of a part in Close Personal Friends is "not the career path she imagined for herself."
The central question, according to those familiar with their situation, is whether the couple will adjust their expenses to align with their current revenue outlook. One source stated the pair could "live comfortably on what they have" if they scaled back, but added that Meghan is "way too ambitious for that." Another source noted the Duchess remains convinced that continued investment will help them "eventually reap the rewards," even as she pushes for Harry to generate more income "even if it means doing things he doesn't like."
