Prince Harry has been labelled a “glorified house husband” by insiders who claim he is “not really doing anything in America” as questions swirl over his career and long-term future in California.
The Duke of Sussex, 41, stepped away from royal life in 2020 alongside his wife, Meghan Markle, 44, and their two children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four.
The family has since settled into a sprawling mansion in Montecito, California, Meghan’s home state.
While the Sussexes initially secured a lucrative five-year deal with Netflix in 2020, which was followed by Harry’s 2023 memoir Spare – from which he is believed to have pocketed about $27 million (about AUD$40 million) – sources now claim the couple has struggled to secure comparable big-ticket projects.
According to Page Six, the couple’s funds have been “slowly dwindling” following the downgrading of their Netflix deal, announced in August, alongside hefty ongoing costs.
These reportedly include USD$2 million to $3 million (about AUD $3-$4 million) a year on security, monthly repayments on a $10 million mortgage (about AUD $14.5 million), and the expenses associated with household and professional staff.
To offset the pressure, Harry is said to be pursuing speaking engagements, while Meghan continues to focus on commercial ventures through her lifestyle brand As Ever, which sells products including jam and flower sprinkles.
“Harry’s not really doing anything in America,” a source told the outlet.
“I think he’s banking on speaking engagements for income right now.”
The same source claimed that while there has been speculation Harry may launch a new business, he and Meghan “don’t have the best track record” in that space.
“He’s (Harry’s) really great at service- look at the success of his Invictus charity. He really should just stick with that,” they said.
Harry remains involved with the Invictus Games, which he founded in 2014, but the couple has also reportedly spent months reassessing the future of their joint charitable venture, Archewell Philanthropies.
In December, it emerged that Archewell had cut three staff members and recorded a drop in revenue alongside rising expenses for 2024.
The Sussexes also lost their 11th publicist, Meredith Maines, who resigned after just one year in the role.
“The big question was, would Archewell close, or would another charity take it over?” a second source told Page Six.
“Harry and Meghan were looking to get a fiscal sponsor, someone to take on the outgoing costs and to keep things cheap. Really, it’s all smoke and mirrors.”
While Harry is said to be “content” living in California, sources suggest he remains emotionally torn and increasingly nostalgic for the structure of his former royal life.
“I don’t think they leave the house much,” the source said of the Sussexes.Â
“Meghan does, maybe, but not so much Harry.”
Royal author Christopher Andersen echoed those claims, suggesting Harry finds the Hollywood spotlight confronting compared to his wife.
“He (Harry) has suffered from crippling social anxiety. Meghan embraces that life more,” Andersen told Us Weekly.
Royal historian Marlene Koenig added that Harry’s life in Britain once came with far more structure.
“He had responsibilities and official events to attend,” Koenig said.
“He’s spending time with his young children and being a hands-on dad. Meghan is the breadwinner.”