Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have carved out a financial independence, setting themselves apart from the British Royal Family. Despite relentless media scrutiny, they have shown that they neither depend on taxpayers’ money nor reside in the United Kingdom.

In response to the above X post, only King Charles, Prince William, and Kate currently receive taxpayer funding. Meanwhile, Doria Ragland and the Spencer sisters have never received any public money. Using this image to depict the taxpayer-funded royal family is misleading. So, it is both unfair and inaccurate to compare them to other ‘working royals’ that rely heavily on public funds while avoiding full financial transparency. Here, we explore how Harry and Meghan have built their wealth, contributed to society, and distanced themselves from the financial entanglements of the monarchy.

Related | Buckingham Palace Cuts the Royal Train But Keeps the Taxpayer Bill Sky High

Meghan Markle’s Net Worth Before Royal Life

Long before joining the royal family, Meghan Markle built a successful career in Hollywood. Best known for her role as Rachel Zane on the hit legal drama Suits, Meghan earned an estimated $50,000 per episode, with her total income from the series exceeding $4 million. In addition to acting, Meghan launched lifestyle projects like her now-defunct blog, The Tig, and collaborated with brands on endorsements. By the time she married Prince Harry in 2018, Meghan’s personal net worth was estimated at $5 million, independent of any royal association.

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Moreover, Meghan continues to earn royalties from Suits. According to industry insiders, “principal performers” receive residual payments from international sales and streaming. With Suits still popular on platforms like Netflix, Meghan earns a percentage of these profits, further bolstering her financial independence.

Who Paid for Meghan Markle’s Wedding Dress?

A common misconception is that taxpayers funded Harry and Meghan’s lavish 2018 wedding. While public funds covered security, the couple personally financed many elements of their special day. Meghan’s iconic Givenchy wedding dress, estimated at $265,000, was paid for by Meghan herself, not taxpayers. This level of personal financial responsibility starkly contrasts the narrative often perpetuated by critics.

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After stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan became self-reliant, ending their dependence on the Duchy of Cornwall, a royal estate that funds the lifestyles of the Prince of Wales and his family. Their transition to financial independence was swift. By 2021, the couple had repaid the £2.4 million used to renovate Frogmore Cottage, their former UK residence, which they now lease at their own expense.

The Royal Family No Longer Funds Harry and Meghan

Today, their income comes from multi-million dollar deals with Netflix, Spotify, and book publishing. Their Netflix contract, valued at $100 million, includes projects like their docuseries Harry & Meghan and upcoming documentaries. Similarly, their Spotify deal brought in $20 million, with Meghan’s podcast Archetypes topping global charts. Harry’s memoir, Spare, reportedly earned $20 million in advance payments, solidifying their financial independence.

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Archewell Foundation: Giving Back to Society

Far from living off the public purse, Harry and Meghan have made significant contributions to society through their non-profit organization, Archewell Foundation. Since its launch, Archewell has partnered with several global charities, focusing on mental health, gender equity, and disaster relief.

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The couple has made a significant impact through their Archewell Foundation raised $13 million, while also donating $3 million to vaccine equity efforts via Global Citizen, supporting mental health organizations such as Mind and the Trevor Project, and partnering with World Central Kitchen to establish community relief centers around the globe. By directly funding these projects, Meghan and Harry exemplify their dedication to driving positive change without relying on taxpayer money.

The Royal Family’s Financial Dependence on Taxpayers

In stark contrast, King Charles III, Prince William, and their families continue to benefit from taxpayer-funded estates like the Duchy of Lancaster and the Duchy of Cornwall. Additionally, the Sovereign Grant, derived from public money, allocated £86.3 million in 2023 for core royal duties and operations. This figure increases to £132 million when extraordinary expenses, such as the ongoing renovations of Buckingham Palace, are factored in, showcasing the significant public financial support the monarchy continues to receive.

Despite claims of financial transparency, the royal family benefits from significant tax exemptions. Both the Duchy of Lancaster and the Duchy of Cornwall remain exempt from corporation and capital gains taxes, allowing them to generate substantial income without the same obligations faced by other entities. While the King ‘voluntarily’ pays income tax, the exact amount remains undisclosed, raising questions about the true extent of the financial contributions made by the monarchy. These arrangements highlight a stark imbalance, where the monarchy accrues immense wealth while taxpayers shoulder significant costs. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were excluded from the Sovereign Grant in 2023, highlighting their financial independence since stepping down as senior royals in 2020.

Media Bias: Use Harry and Meghan as Scapegoats

The British media frequently uses Harry and Meghan as scapegoats to distract from the royal family’s financial controversies and structural issues. Instead of scrutinizing King Charles and Prince William’s reliance on taxpayer-funded estates, like the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall, the media focuses on Harry and Meghan’s independent ventures. For instance, investigations reveal that the Duchy of Lancaster charges the NHS £11 million in rent for a warehouse storing ambulances, while the Duchy of Cornwall profits millions from schools, charities, and even the military for land leases. Despite this, headlines consistently target Harry and Meghan, who live in California and fund their lifestyle through private earnings, including lucrative contracts with Netflix and book publishing.

This manipulation is not new. A documentary Queen Camilla: The Wicked Stepmother reveals how the media has deliberately crafted narratives to rehabilitate the images of senior royals, often sacrificing others in the process. Prince Harry directly accuses the royal family of “getting in bed with the devil” to enhance their public image, claiming they exploited his teenage struggles and personal life to improve his father’s reputation. These actions once again showed that the press unfairly targeted Harry and Meghan, even after they stepped away from royal duties and became financially independent.

A New Model of Royal Responsibility

Harry and Meghan exemplify what financial independence and modern royal responsibility look like. By building their wealth through private ventures, funding charitable initiatives, and rejecting public money, they challenge the outdated norms of the British monarchy. Their story is a reminder that royalty can thrive without burdening taxpayers, proving that true leadership comes from giving back, not taking.

It’s time to recognize Harry and Meghan as trailblazers who redefine what it means to be part of the royal family. Unlike their UK-based counterparts, they are fully self-funded and dedicated to creating a better world—free from the constraints of taxpayer dependence.

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