‘Ex-Prince’ Harry Leaps Out Of The U.K. Frying Pan & Into The L.A. Fire
Britain's Ex-Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Ex-Duchess of Sussex, holding their son Archie. REUTERS/Toby Melville/Pool/File Photo
- The Queen has officially stripped Prince Harry and Meghan Markle of their titles as Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
- Harry’s exit speech made it clear he is abdicating for his wife, and an eventual move to Los Angeles, California looks inevitable.
- Sadly, the former prince won’t find the peace he seeks among America’s Hollywood elite in the media furnace of L.A.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have officially been stripped of their royal titles , and are attempting to break as cleanly as they can from official duties. In a move intended to protect his young family after years in the cross-hairs of the abusive British press, the former H.R.H is walking out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Prince Harry Flees The Press That Killed His Mother
The reasoning for Prince Harry’s “abdication” is, to some degree, to protect his wife and young child (Archie) from relentless tabloid attacks in the United Kingdom. Wanting to bring some normality into their lives is understandable, and Markle has been treated particularly cruelly by the U.K. press.
It is even easier to comprehend when one considers that Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, lost her life in a tragedy pursued by the same forces of malice that hound Meghan. Why then make plans to transition to the high-profile, highly-scrutinized world of the Hollywood elite?
Markle’s Roots Make Los Angeles An Obvious New Home
Meghan Markle is believed to have stated that while she does not want to live in the United States while Donald Trump is President , the couple’s ultimate intention is to move back to Los Angeles.
Tinsel town will welcome them with open arms, but if this was about avoiding the limelight, there isn’t a worse home on the planet. Paparazzi stalk every luxurious hangout, and camera-phones make the hills the only retreat from the constant barrage of attention.
$25 Million Won’t Cut It In Hollywood
This is where things get tricky. L.A. is not cheap if you have suffocating fame. Prince Harry’s net worth was believed to be around $25 million before he recently was ordered to pay back a few million for renovations to his and Markle’s Frogmore Cottage home in the U.K.
If Markle chips in around $5 million , it leaves their total net worth back at around $30 million . Given that some of Harry’s wealth is an inheritance in priceless jewels from the Queen’s mother , it’s hard to know how liquid he is.
To provide the haven that Prince Harry and his wife needs, with tall enough hedges and sufficient gates to keep the prying camera’s out, more than half their net worth is going to need to go on a home. $10 million+ listing prices are a dime a dozen on L.A.’s west-side, where the Elon Musk’s and LeBron James’ of the world make their homes alongside the Hollywood A-listers .
Harry Jumps Out of the Frying Pan And Into The Fire
To pay for all this seclusion, (not to mention the security they will need as one of the world’s most famous couples), it’s evident that they intend for Meghan to reboot her acting career. Harry has been doing his best to get Disney’s Bob Iger on board; to great success.
Netflix is also aggressively pursuing the couple to work with them to do “whatever they want.” Clearly, the limelight and the riches it brings are going to be integral to their plans, and even if Trump does win in 2020 and they start their new lives in Canada, trips to California are going to be frequent.
All this points to the conclusion that Prince Harry will not be able to find peace by abdicating his royal titles.
His lifestyle requirements will need to be funded by the same fame he is fleeing as they leverage their former-status into financial independence. Unfortunately for Harry, this means the very pressure he is trying to avoid is about to get a lot worse.
