Meghan and Harry face hefty bills as they 'struggle to run £12m mansion with 15 staff'

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are "struggling" to run their £12 million mansion, claims an expert.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex purchased their nine-bedroom dream home in California after stepping back from Royal duties in 2020. The sprawling mansion is equipped with every amenity including a library, office, spa, gym, game room, wine cellar - and 16 baths!

Situated on 5.4 acres of land, the Sussexes' estate - where they reside with six year old Prince Archie and three year old Princess Lilibet - is surrounded by beautiful gardens, as well as a tennis court, tea house, children's cottage, pool, and five-car garage. However, an expert suggests that maintaining such a luxurious lifestyle comes with a significant amount of work and will cost the couple hundreds of thousands of pounds annually to maintain.

Eric Bramlett, a realtor and owner of luxury real estate company Bramlett Residential, has provided insight into the financial and physical burden of managing a property like the Sussexes'. Speaking to Fabulous, he said: "Managing a $14 million (£12 million) mansion like Harry and Meghan's in Montecito takes a lot of work.", reports the Mirror.

Bramlett further said that the level of opulence that the Sussexes' mansion embodies would command "high-operating costs", which may likely need a workforce ranging from 10 to 15 full-time staff such as housekeepers, a house manager, personal chefs, groundsmen, and security personnel. In addition to staff wages, the expert pointed out that the couple would also be covering expenses related to utilities, gardening, upkeep, and safety services - an annual sum that could escalate into the hundreds of thousands, excluding major renovations or repairs costs.

In Bramlett's words: "It's like running a small boutique hotel with residential service. The costs pile up quick, but it comes with luxury living."

Nonetheless, finances are not something that the Sussexes have to agonise about. As per several reports, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan collectively amass a staggering net worth estimated at £48 million, despite stepping away from their senior Royal responsibilities in 2020. The couple were also mandated to refund taxpayers' money utilised for Frogmore Cottage refurbishments, which was their previous dwelling in Windsor.

The industrious pair have since established themselves stateside, nabbing a selection of profitable contracts from companies such as Netflix, Penguin Random House, and Spotify.

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Meghan Markle was already valued at £3.5m when she wed Prince Harry thanks to her starring role as Rachel Zane in the popular TV show Suits. It is understood she commanded a remarkable £37,000 for each episode.

Harry's personal wealth eclipsed Meghan's. In 1994, The Queen Mother tucked away a generous £19 million into a trust fund for her great-grandchildren, including Harry and William.

A report by The Guardian reveals that when they were 21, the brothers divided £6 million of the trust with Harry earning the lion's share to "compensate for not becoming sovereign".

It's also reported that on his 40th birthday, Harry will get more from the trust fund. According to Forbes, the late Princess Diana bequeathed almost £8 million after tax to her sons, meaning they each get around £340,000 every year after reaching the age of 25.

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