Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's new life away from the royal family is proving to be financially fruitful, with their Montecito home experiencing significant appreciation. The couple originally purchased their nine-bedroom mansion for £11.8 million ($14.7 million) back in 2020, but recent estimates suggest its value has now nearly doubled to £23.8 million ($29.6 million), according to real estate agency Zillow. Remarkably, the property has seen a 6.2% increase just over the past 30 days alone.
This rise is expected to continue, bolstered by the anticipated success of Meghan's latest project, her cookery show on Netflix titled "With Love, Meghan," set to premiere on January 15. Charlie Lankston, executive editor at Realtor.com, shared insights with Newsweek, predicting heightened interest due to the show's promotion, regardless of its actual filming location. "The release of Meghan's new Netflix series will undoubtedly only increase interest in the couple's home life," he stated.
Meghan has already sparked excitement with her return to social media, launching her Instagram account on New Year's Day under the username @meghan. Within 24 hours, the account amassed over one million followers, currently sitting at 1.3 million at the time of reporting. Many fans are eager for updates on her upcoming ventures, as the Duchess seems to be shifting focus to her own career endeavors. Body language expert Darren Stanton highlighted her confident demeanor, stating, "She’s making her focus very clear, which is doing projects on a solo basis." Mei's anticipated series will feature both British-inspired and international recipes, setting the stage for her independent artistic expression.
Harry, on the other hand, is reportedly wrestling with some regret about past decisions—including the controversial release of his memoir "Spare"—which dissected personal family conflicts and strained their ties to the monarchy. While expressing initial anger about his family's treatment, he now finds himself reflecting on whether the approach taken was wise, after the dust has settled on the initial uproar surrounding its publication. A source told The Mirror, "Although Harry is glad he finally got his say on everything... there is part of him... not sure it was handled in the right way and he has faced a lot of criticism for it and hurt his family a lot."
Meghan's stance has shifted as well. She has been contemplating writing her own tell-all book, with several offers on the table tempting her back to controversial storytelling. Yet, with shifting public sentiment and current health issues affecting members of the royal family, she is contemplating the impact this might have on her public image. The source indicated, "She doesn’t have the loyalty Harry has and would happily write about her experiences—but she is also aware... it could cause another backlash and lose her even more public support." Following recent shifts, including admiration for Kate Middleton’s handling of personal trials, Meghan appears cautious about reopening old wounds.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, their close friend Delfina Blaquier was spotted mingling at the Magic Millions carnival in Australia alongside Zara Tindall, Harry's cousin. The event saw Zara dressed to the nines and enjoying time with guests, demonstrating the noteworthy connections still alive among the relatives, as the Tindalls' and Sussexes' social circles continue to intertwine.
Despite the criticisms and challenges, the Sussexes are mapping out their lives post-royalty on increasingly stable financial footing. Certainly, their collective ventures, highlighting the importance of family and personal growth, are capturing headlines and sparking conversations internationally. Time will tell how their newfound independence shapes their narratives and standing with the monarchy, but it seems Meghan and Harry are set on charting their unique path to stability—both personally and professionally.
With fluctuations from their royal past now only echoing as they step forward, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's lives continue to amaze and intrigue, opening new chapters rich with opportunity and self-realization.