William and Kate’s 'Control' Over a Royal Matter Drove Meghan and Harry Away, Claims Insider
Meghan Markle officially stepped down as a senior royal alongside Prince Harry in 2020. While her sudden exit caught many off guard, Palace insiders were quick to whisper about her alleged desire to live the life of a ‘billionaire’ celebrity. According to one insider, Markle reportedly left royal life because marrying a Prince didn’t come with the 'lavish perks' she allegedly expected. The source also claimed that she chose to move to the U.S. after realizing Prince William and Kate Middleton would eventually "control" her share of the royal allowance.
The insider told The Sun that Markle dumped the royal family after her financial expectations weren’t met. They said, "She wants to be a billionaire. She wants a private jet. She wants to live a certain life. The assumption is that if you marry a Prince of England, then you end up with a private jet and the lifestyle she craves." The source explained that although Harry had savings and an inheritance from the late Princess Diana, it was William and his wife who would eventually take control of the Duchy fund—a major source of income used to support both Princes’ lifestyles. The insider added, "But when she realised William and Kate would ultimately be in charge of how much they got in terms of their allowance, she was saying, 'We gotta get out of here.'"
Before Queen Elizabeth’s passing in 2022, the Duchy purse strings were controlled by King Charles through the Duchy of Cornwall property, which provided $6.3 million (£5 million) for his sons to support their families. However, when Charles ascended the throne in 2022, ownership of the Duchy funds was passed on to William. The Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their three children, rank higher in the royal pecking order than the Sussexes. William earns a substantial income from the Duchy by charging rent from its tenants for their various properties.
Royal author Tom Quinn also echoed Markle's alleged penchant for marrying into money and fame. Quinn mentioned in his book, Yes Ma'am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, that when she learned Harry’s net worth was only around $27.3 million (£20 million), it was her wake-up call. As reported by the Irish Star, the author penned, "Meghan Markle had a typically American view of the royal family before she joined it. For her, life was all about castles, glittering balls, and limitless wealth and ease. As one royal staff member put it, 'She expected a billionaire and she got a millionaire.'"
The Duchess of Sussex is reportedly doing her best to become a 'billionaire celebrity' without Harry's influence. Royal expert Tom Bower told The Mirror, "He [Harry] has spent his whole life never having a penny in his pocket. So he doesn't understand where she [Markle] is coming from, which is that she worked phenomenally hard, struggled hard, and was constantly humiliated." The biographer also argued that the Sussexes' marriage is at a ‘tipping point’ and suggested that this may be why Markle is pursuing a unique professional path, which is contrary to what Harry wants.