THE BIG TALKS. THE BIG ISSUES
A number of issues must be thrashed out between the couple and the Palace
The money
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have declared they want to move towards being financially independent. The couple gets around 95% of their income from Prince Charles, receiving £5m last year. The money comes from Prince Charles’s Duchy of Cornwall, a portfolio of property and financial investments.
They will give up the other 5% of their income which comes from the government.
£5m given to Harry each year from his father’s Duchy of Cornwall estate
£4m is the estimated wealth of Meghan from her acting career
£20m thought to the amount left to Harry by his mother, Princess Diana
The Titles
The couple hold the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Earl and Countess of Dumbarton in Scotland. They have faced calls to renounce them and become private citizens. The Queen is unlikely, despite calls from some critics of the couple, to strip them of the titles. However, there is likely to be some concern if the couple are seen as cashing in on their titles. Prince Harry will remain sixth in line to the throne.
The security
Harry and Meghan have taxpayer-funded armed security provided by the Metropolitan Police.
The cost is estimated to be £1m a year – and that would rise if Scotland Yard officers join them in Canada. The couple said in a statement that they are “classified as internationally protected people which mandates this level of security”. But their security arrangements are now understood to be under review.