When Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan announced that they’d be ditching their royal duties, fans were flabbergasted. But there was one particular takeaway that left us scratching our heads.
“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,” the Duke and Duchess of Sussex wrote in their bombshell statement.
But what does “financially independent” really mean?
Harry and Meghan want to “work to become financially independent.”
(Getty)On their schmick new website, Harry and Meghan revealed that they will “no longer receive funding through the Sovereign Grant,”- the annual funding mechanism of the monarchy that covers the work of the Royal Family in support of the Queen. This includes expenses to maintain official residences and workspaces.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex take great pride in their work and are committed to continuing their charitable endeavours as well as establishing new ones,” their website reads.
“In addition, they value the ability to earn a professional income, which in the current structure they are prohibited from doing.“
So without the Sovereign Grant, what money do the couple have to fall back? Prince Harry may have a hefty inheritance, but what about his wife?
Meghan acquired a decent amount from her starring role on Suits.
(Getty)According to a report by Money, when Duchess Meghan married into the royal family, her net worth was estimated to be a whopping $US5 million- that’s over AU$7 million.
The former Suits star reportedly earned $US450,000 (AU$656,540) per series of the legal drama, in which she played paralegal, Rachel Zane. Not a bad pay packet if you ask us!
And let’s not forget that she also starred in movies such as Remember Me and Horrible Bosses, on top of TV appearances in shows including CSI Miami/CSI New York, and Without A Trace. And if she goes back to work, she’ll be raking in even more cash.
WATCH BELOW: Meghan Markle as a FedEx girl in Horrible Bosses. Post continues after video…
As for Prince Harry, his bank account is practically overflowing with royal dosh.
The Duke of Sussex’s net worth is reportedly at least $US25 million (over AU$36 million), with some reports suggesting it even extend to $US40 million (over AU$58 million). This vast sum is made up of money left to him as an inheritance from his late mother Princess Diana and an annual allowance from Prince Charles from his trust, the Duchy of Cornwall.
He also reportedly earned between US$50-53,000 (up to AU$77,000) as a helicopter pilot when he was in the armed forces.
Prince Harry earned money during his time serving in the Army.
(Getty)When news broke of the couple’s aim to earn their own dosh, royal watchers all over the world joked about the idea of two high-profile royals joining the workforce.
READ MORE: The best Twitter reactions to Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s decision to “step back”
Social media erupted with jokes that Prince Harry is finally getting a “real job” at 35.
“Working on financial independence at 35? Congrats. Welcome to adulthood,” one person commented on the original Sussex Royal Instagram.
