Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's ongoing issues with the British royal family have been widely publicized.
In 2020, the couple announced their decision to step down as senior working members of the royal family, expressing their intention to become financially independent. They cited a desire for more privacy and a peaceful life outside of the public eye as key reasons for their departure. Since relocating to California, their relationship with Harry's family, particularly his father King Charles and his brother Prince William, has reportedly become increasingly strained.
Rumors of tensions and disagreements have persisted in the media for over a year. Recent reports indicate that Harry and Meghan made a significant financial request to King Charles, which was firmly rejected. Allegedly, they asked the king for a substantial payout from his personal wealth and estate. To provide context, King Charles became the monarch following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September. Along with the title, he inherited the Crown Estate, valued independently at around $28 billion. Additionally, Charles has personal investments, property, and other assets accumulated over decades, estimated to be worth between $750 million to $770 million.
According to sources cited by UK tabloids, Harry and Meghan privately approached King Charles a few weeks ago, requesting about one-third of his total personal wealth, approximately $250 million to $260 million. Their rationale was that as Charles’s sons, both Harry and William should be entitled to an equal division of their father's assets upon his death. This request was unusual, given that Charles is still alive, and even more unusual because Harry and Meghan indicated they needed the funds to cover their security costs in America after opting out of British taxpayer-funded police protection upon leaving the UK.
Unsurprisingly, King Charles was reportedly furious about this plea from his youngest son and daughter-in-law. He swiftly rejected their demands, asserting that Harry and Meghan's financial independence meant they should not rely on the royal family for financial support. Sources close to the royal family revealed that Charles believes Harry will still inherit from the Duchy of Cornwall, but receiving one-third of his personal wealth now was unacceptable.
Further complicating matters, Prince William, the future king, is said to support Charles’s decision. William allegedly agrees that distributing family wealth among heirs while the current monarch is alive contradicts long-standing tradition and protocol. Insider sources claimed that William was astonished by Harry and Meghan's direct appeal for such a large sum, which has further deepened the rift between the brothers. Their relationship was already strained due to Harry's departure from royal duties and subsequent public comments about the monarchy in interviews with Oprah Winfrey and on various podcasts.
This financial dispute has reportedly shattered any remaining trust or goodwill between the two brothers and their wives. It has also extinguished any hopes of Harry and Meghan’s financial demands being reconsidered in the future. Consequently, the couple's relationship with King Charles and Prince William appears to have deteriorated irreparably.
While Harry and Meghan have not publicly commented on these reports, the consistent details from multiple insider sources suggest there is some truth to the claims. This incident highlights the extent of the rift within the royal family since the couple's departure. Any private reconciliation efforts seem nullified by what appears to be a tactless demand for hundreds of millions of dollars. Harry and Meghan evidently felt entitled to more financial support from the Windsor family after becoming independent in America, but such expectations clash with the traditions and operations of the monarchy. From King Charles’s perspective, the request was astonishing and has likely obliterated any chances of reconciliation.
