Meghan Markle & Prince Harry had to hire a £231-an-hour specialist to look after the FISH at £12m Montecito mansion
PRINCE Harry may have left behind royal palaces – but he now lives in a swanky £12million pad with Meghan Markle that comes with some rather large costs.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex splashed out their Montecito mansion in 2020 and they were informed there was a one drawback with the property.
The problem was the nine-bedroom home already had some very particular residents who called it home… the koi carp in the pond.
Writing in his bombshell memoir Spare, Prince Harry wrote: “We found a place.
“Priced at a steep discount. Just up the coast, outside Santa Barbara.
“Lots of room, large gardens, a climbing frame—even a pond with koi carp.
“The koi were stressed, the estate agent warned.
“So are we. We’ll all get along famously.
“No, the agent explained, the koi need very particular care.”
The Duke of Sussex revealed he was informed that he would have to “hire a koi guy” for the stressed fish, and he had enquired as to where to find a specialist.
He continued: “The agent wasn’t sure. We laughed. First-world problems.”
According to Aquatic Veterinary Services, a mobile veterinary practice taking care of pet fish in California, a fish examination can cost $300 (£231) for an initial service fee plus mileage costs, and then $25 (£19) per fish.
Following diagnostics, further blood work or ultrasound tests can be recommended by veterinary staff at extra cost, plus any treatment needed.
However, the fish costs are a drop in the water compared to the property price itself, with Meghan and Harry securing a $9.5million (£7.2million) mortgage for their 7.4-acre home, after putting down a hefty deposit.
Harry’s ‘dream’ home
The couple appear to be delighted with their new pad, with Harry writing: “We took a tour. The place was a dream.
“So we pulled together a down-payment, took out a mortgage, and in July 2020 we moved in.”
He said the move only took a couple of hours as everything they owned had fitted into 13 suitcases – and they had a quiet drink in celebration and roasted a chicken for dinner.
The koi were stressed, the estate agent warned. So are we. We’ll all get along famously
Prince Harry
When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from royal duties, they said they would work toward becoming what they called “financially independent.”
So far they have secured deals with Netflix and Spotify, with Harry’s book bringing in a $20million (£15million) advance from publisher Penguin Random House, according to Forbes.
The sprawling 16-bath home is located in a star-studded enclave in California and sits on 5.4 acres of land.
Fit for royalty, it features a library, office, spa, gym, game room, wine cellar and five-car garage, it’s believed.
The estate also boasts sweeping lawns, tiered rose gardens, tall Italian cypress trees, blooming lavender, olive trees, a tennis court, tea house, children’s cottage and a pool.
There is even a chicken coop with “Archie’s Chick Inn”, which has rescue hens.
The couple, who live there with Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, have treated fans to glimpses of their multiple living spaces on several occasions – showing off a minimalist vibe.
‘Boutique hotel’
Despite the home sounding like a dream pad, it does come with a lot of work, according to Eric Bramlett, realtor and owner of Bramlett Residential in Austin, Texas.
Speaking to Fabulous, Eric shared: “Managing a $14million mansion like Harry and Meghan’s in Montecito takes a lot of work.
“Even for modern luxury homes that big, you need a good-sized staff and high operating costs.
“A house with 9 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, a pool, tennis court, and guesthouse probably needs around 10-15 full-time staff.
“That could include housekeepers, a house manager, private chef, and likely some security because they are famous.
Just paying the staff salaries, utilities, landscaping, maintenance, security, and more could easily cost hundreds of thousands per year.
“Big renovations and repairs like roofing, HVAC, appliances would cost even more sometimes.”
He added that the grounds – including the pool, trees and tennis court – will require groundsmen and professional help.
Eric continued: “It’s like running a small boutique hotel with residential service.
“The costs pile up quick, but it comes with luxury living.
“Keeping a place this big properly staffed and maintained takes major money.”
Why did Prince Harry and Meghan Markle step back as senior working royals?
PRINCE Harry has always wanted out of the Royal Family and the repercussions will be felt for years, an expert has claimed.
The Duke of Sussex has lived in California with his wife Meghan Markle since 2020 after they dramatically quit their jobs as working royals and moved across the pond.
Katie Nicholl, who is Vanity Fair’s royal correspondent, told The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show that Megxit did not come as a surprise to her.
Speaking to The Sun’s Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson, the commentator explained: “Anyone who knows Harry is aware he’s always wanted a way out of the Royal Family.
“He’s said multiple times on the record that he wished he’d never been born a prince.
“I think he really is living the life he wants to now. It’s very, very sad that it’s played out the way it has.”
In a statement made on the Sussexes’ Instagram account as they stepped back in 2020, the pair wrote: “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution.
“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.
“It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment.
“We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages.
“This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity.”
Harry’s worth
Thankfully, Prince Harry is thought to have an impressive net worth of about £48million from inheritance and their various ventures.
In 1994, The Queen Mother put away around £19million into a trust fund for her great grandchildren – which includes William and Harry.
According to The Guardian, the brothers split £6million of this trust at age 21 and Harry took the majority of the money to “compensate for not becoming sovereign”.
When they reach 40 they reportedly get to split another £8million, but the other grandchildren, including Eugenie and Beatrice will get a few million pounds each.
As well as funds coming in from their great grandmother, Forbes reported that Princess Diana left her boys nearly £8million after taxes.
It was also set up that once William and Harry turned 25, they would start to receive around £340,000 a year.
Before she tied the knot with Harry, Meghan was worth an estimated £3.5million, as a result of her role in American drama Suits.
Meghan is now about to launch her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, which could sell cookbooks, jams and homeware.