Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s security costs

One of the many disclosures from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's discussion with Oprah Winfrey was that the Royal family had cut them off financially, and that long before that, they had agreed to pay for their and their young son Archie's security detail. Markle was especially concerned that Archie would not be granted royal protection in the form of a security escort, given the tabloids' full-court press on her. They arrived in Markle's hometown of Los Angeles just ahead of the pandemic-related border closures as they made their grand exit from the royal family and its associated duties.

Tyler Perry generously offered the Sussexes his home and security detail as they pondered their next steps. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle obviously have a lot of assets, both separately and collectively. Harry and Meghan have a joint net worth of $50 million, with $40 million coming from a fund set up by his mother, Princess Diana. Meghan has a respectable net worth going into the union, thanks to her time on the TV show “Suits,” and they both share a multi-year contract with Netflix worth $150 million. So, what's the big deal about them paying for their own 24/7 security? How much is it really going to cost?

The annual security bill for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is expected to be between $2 and $3 million. The couple and their children need 24-hour surveillance. To keep their Santa Barbara mansion secure, they'll probably need a mix of security guards and electronic devices. They'll still need a surveillance team to check out potential destinations before they arrive. They would also need drivers to safely accompany them. They'll also need a team to track social media, stay in contact with local law enforcement for any possible attacks, and recruit people who look like Harry and Meghan to get the paparazzi off their trail. This is serious business for Prince Harry, who lost his mother in a car accident in 1997 while being chased by paparazzi – who, despite being the most popular woman in the world at the time, had her royal security detail removed in her divorce from Prince Charles.

Regardless of who Harry and Meghan employed for protection, they would have evaluated their house, the architecture of their home, the wildlife in the region, and the possibility of natural disasters such as wildfires and earthquakes, which are frequent in California. Drones will be used to patrol the property's perimeter in order to discourage intruders. The employees of Harry and Meghan would also have to be carefully vetted. Despite having full-time protection and sensors in their house, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi's nearby home was burglarized last year.

What Prince Harry and Meghan Markle write on social media would need to be monitored. New photos from a holiday serves as a reminder to criminals that they are not at home. Before they depart, their security staff will have to check the terminal, hotel, or location. They'd have to drive in a convoy of vehicles, with a lead vehicle and a trail car, so they'd have more options for escaping if anything went wrong.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Archie, and their future baby girl have complex and costly security requirements.