Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could face financial difficulties in the future as their luxury Sussex lifestyle in California drains their funds and leave the royal couple scrambling for cash.

The couple, who stepped down from the royal family in 2020, have tried in recent months to secure their future with brand deals with huge companies such as Spotify, Penguin House and also to land a renewal deal with Netflix ahead of their contract ending next year. Yet it appears the couple could be spending more than they’re making with their luxury lifestyle becoming a financial drain and without any certainty over when their next big deal could land.

The Sussex lifestyle is reported to be growing increasingly expensive, with payments for their $14m mansion, designer wardrobes, private security and hefty travel bills as they regularly use private jets. The Duke of Sussex’s recent loss against the UK Home Office after they lowered security for him and his family could also see the Prince face an eyewatering £1m legal bill, and with the Duke set to appeal the decision costs could continue to spiral.

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Reports to Heat Magazine have revealed the Duke and Duchess are growing more worried about their finances as they have so far only received a fraction of the money from their $100m deal with Netflix, with the couple only getting $20m so far. Last year they broke with Spotify and their renewal date with Netflix looms next year, with no confirmation that the streaming giant will renew or extend with them again.

The financial worries also come as fears over losing their Sussex brand name could spell trouble for Harry and Meghan’s marriage. A royal expert has now claimed that losing their royal status “will damage brand Sussex”, and could mean “there is a chance Meghan may also lose interest” in her husband.

Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, royal expert and author Tom Quinn said: “Harry and Meghan are beginning to worry that if their children don’t have a relationship with the UK and by extension with the Royal family they will damage brand Sussex. Surveys already show that America is losing interest in the couple and they both know that Harry’s only real selling point, his only real brand value, is that he’s a Royal so he knows he’s going to have to build bridges with the working royals or America will lose interest in him and if America loses interest there is a chance Meghan may also lose interest in him.”

Quinn added: “Being a Royal is the only thing he’s been trained to do, so he needs to maintain some kind of connection with his family in order to maintain his credibility as a royal.”

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