A Return to the UK

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly considering a move back to the UK, a decision that has surprised many given their acrimonious exit from the Royal Family in 2020. The couple has faced financial headwinds, with an insider telling Page Six that cash flow may be a primary driver for the move, according to a report from CinemaBlend. The same insider cited the couple's two mortgages on their $14.5 million Montecito property, an annual security bill of around $3 million, and a household staff that has shrunk from over a dozen to about four. Meghan reportedly drives a Land Rover that retails for $140,000.

However, other insiders have pushed back on any narrative of financial desperation, stressing that the couple is "not out of money," and noting that Prince Harry has inherited a sizeable fortune. The couple also has a vacation home in Portugal.

A Fragmented Portfolio

Since stepping back from royal duties, the Sussexes have pursued a range of ventures, from streaming deals to lifestyle products. Their Netflix partnership, reportedly worth $100 million (£73 million), produced five shows over five years, but these projects have struggled to attract large audiences. In 2024, Netflix ended its support for Meghan's lifestyle brand As Ever, and her show With Love, Meghan was cancelled after its second season saw declining viewership. The couple's big screen attempt, Cookie Queens, flopped at the box office. Their relationship with Spotify, which signed a $25 million (£18 million) podcast deal, also ended in 2023, with Archewell Productions and Spotify issuing a joint statement saying they had "mutually agreed to part ways."

These failures have led branding experts to suggest that the Sussexes have squandered their early momentum. Andrew Stephen, the L'Oréal professor of marketing at the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School, told the BBC: "They attracted enormous attention and were initially very good at monetising it. But I don't think they have been as successful at converting that initial success into an enduring brand." He also described their current portfolio as "fragmented spanning social impact, entertainment and lifestyle," making it difficult for the public to know what their brand stands for.

Susan Fournier, a branding expert and former professor at Harvard Business School and Boston University, told the BBC that the couple have undergone multiple reinventions: "Every time a brand does a 180 like that, you can't go back." She went on: "It's a lot of consecutive 180s. You can't go back. It's going to be really hard." (This quote is a paraphrase of the BBC report.)

New Opportunities in the UK?

Despite the challenges, the possible move to the Cotswolds presents a fresh opportunity. The couple are believed to have spent time there earlier this summer, and Laura Stoloff, an American stylist and creative director who lives in both London and the Cotswolds, sees "a natural connection" between Meghan's lifestyle brand and the Cotswolds. She told the BBC: "It could make her brand better. There is still a lot of fascination with English country life, particularly in America, and has the ability to bring that to a very large, global audience."

As ever, which is the Duchess's lifestyle range, sells jams, teas, candles, and other products "crafted to elevate your everyday and inspire moments of joy," and is expected to continue even after the couple's move. A potential return to acting for Meghan is also in the works, as the BBC has learned that she is in discussions about a role in the Netflix series The Gentlemen, a comedy created by Guy Ritchie about a duke who becomes a drug baron. This would mark her first major acting role since her marriage to Prince Harry.

Income from Other Sources

Despite the setbacks, the couple have substantial income sources beyond their-lived ventures. Harry's memoir Spare was the fastest-selling non-fiction book in the UK since records began in 1998. They also have inheritance and other investments.

Perspectives

Branding experts: Both Andrew Stephen and Susan Fournier, as reported by the BBC, argue that the couple's brand has become fragmented and that a return to the UK cannot serve as a simple brand reset. Stephen states that "a postcode does not reposition a brand. Behavior does."

Insiders in support of the couple: As reported by CinemaBlend, some insiders have pushed back against claims of financial distress, affirming that the couple is "not out of money" and that Prince Harry has inherited plenty. They also highlight the couple's steady income streams.

Meghan's creative direction: Laura Stoloff, a stylist and creative director, supports the idea that a move to the Cotswolds could enhance Meghan's lifestyle brand, making it more distinctive and appealing to a global audience.