Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing renewed scrutiny over the sustainability of their post-royal business model after claims surfaced that the couple could eventually be forced to downsize from their $14 million Montecito, California, mansion as lucrative opportunities tied to their royal connections become harder to secure.
The latest speculation emerged from comments made by Daily Mail columnist Maureen Callahan during an episode of The Royals Uncensored podcast, where she argued that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex may be finding it increasingly difficult to generate the level of commercial success that initially accompanied their departure from royal life.
"The information supply has been choked off. So the stories are that they may need to downsize from that $14m Montecito mansion," Callahan said, according to the Daily Express.
The remarks come nearly six years after Harry and Meghan relocated to California following their decision to step back as working members of the British royal family. Their Montecito estate quickly became one of the most visible symbols of their independence from Buckingham Palace and their efforts to build a new life through media, entertainment and business ventures.
At the time, the couple secured a series of high-profile commercial agreements that appeared to validate their strategy. Major partnerships with Netflix and Spotify, along with speaking engagements and publishing projects, positioned the Sussexes as two of the most marketable former royals in modern history.
Yet some of those ventures have delivered mixed results. Spotify ended its partnership with Meghan after the release of a single season of her Archetypes podcast. While the Netflix relationship remains active, the volume of projects produced under the agreement has been more limited than many observers initially expected.
Callahan suggested the challenge stems from the diminishing value of royal revelations as a commercial asset.
"They are having a lot of trouble monetising what they used to monetise, which is their connection to the royal family, which was secrets of the royal family," Callahan told podcast listeners.
The argument reflects a broader debate surrounding the Sussexes' long-term business prospects. Since the publication of Prince Harry's memoir Spare, the couple's highly publicized interviews and documentary appearances have provided unprecedented insight into royal life. Critics argue that the pool of previously undisclosed material may be shrinking, potentially making future projects more difficult to market.
Questions about finances have intensified alongside speculation surrounding Meghan's professional ambitions. Callahan referenced recent reporting suggesting the Duchess may be exploring acting opportunities again after years focused on producing content, podcasting and entrepreneurship.
Meghan's primary business focus currently appears to be her lifestyle brand, As Ever, which has launched a range of products including preserves, candles and other premium household goods. The venture represents a shift away from royal commentary and toward consumer branding.
The brand has not escaped criticism. Commentators recently revisited a 2016 interview in which Meghan discussed her former lifestyle platform, The Tig.
"There are no $100 candles on my site - that's so obnoxious," Meghan said at the time, explaining that she preferred products that felt accessible and attainable.
Neither Prince Harry nor Meghan Markle has publicly addressed the claims about their Montecito property.
