Big News From Harry and Meghan - Royal Family Stepping Back

At 3-4% withdrawal rate recommended by the FIRE folks, $30M would not fund their desired lifestyle. Bogleheads will tell them that they will have to work for a few more years. Plus, they have at least one kid to send to college eventually… gotta start that 529 quickly. :slight_smile:

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What kind of work can they do to fund their lifestyle? They will have to pull in a few million a year minimum. Not sure how easy that is. How many people earn more than a million year after year?

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/01/meghan-markle-kate-middleton-royals-culture-war/604981/

Good thing college in the UK and Canada is cheaper. :slight_smile:

If they took some of that and invested wisely, they wouldn’t just have to draw down on it. Add to that additional earnings, which I do believe they could do just based on their name recognition (even without formally using their royal titles), I bet they could come out just fine.

It’s none of my business, but I confess it will be interesting to see how this shakes out.

They’re probably also expecting a decline in their usual spending habits.

^They better. Not many people pull in multi million a year every year.

From what I read, Canada’s law does not allow citizenship or permanent residency to titled royals. They will have to give up the royal titles to live there more than half of the year according to this article. Another twist that makes me think they may not have thought this through. I feel for their parents.

Although there appears to be some support for Harry to be the next governor general of Canada (in which case the citizenship/residency/royalty issue would become moot): https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/a-majority-of-canadians-want-prince-harry-to-become-governor-general
That would also solve the problem of who pays for security costs, but would make it hard for him to earn money from anything else. I guess Meghan could still earn money from film/TV work, etc.

Interestingly enough, the Duchess of York reportedly said that Prince Andrew was offered the post during their marriage and “she speculated in hindsight that their agreement to refuse the commission may have been a contributing factor in their eventual break-up”:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_General_of_Canada

I think they will head a foundation, but pay themselves a salary for it. I think they will also be able to make a deal like the Obamas with Netflix, to produce doumentaries about causes they support-and a large portion will go to the charity but they will also get paid. I’m not sure what kind of paid board of directors positions they would be qualified for, but I would not be surprized to see something like that. And then they can also charge for speaking engagements. I think between the two of them they could make a few million per year easily. The challenge will be in a few years when the buzz has subsided, people might be less interested in what they have to offer.

                    I think that is a very generous assessment. I think the potential is more Fergie's QVC than Obamas' netflix.  There has been so little control of the narrative. The impending court case is just going to be so dirty.  It was important they leveraged the victim status and that is not happening at all. 

Work? Does anyone doubt Megan wishes to act again? With her new fame and name recognition (sorry didn’t know Suits) I imagine she thinks she is at the top of marketable movie gigs.

They have a brand - surely they will find a way to exploit, I mean market it.

The real question is how soon before we see them on the red carpet at all the A-list events?

IDK, she got a voice over job from Disney. That doesn’t sound so glamorous to me. But I am no expert in matter like this.

It looks as if they’ve already started downsizing! The staff at Frogmore are being let-go. While some are being absorbed into other Royal posts, others aren’t. Of course, for those being axed, unless they have a family fortune to get them through the transition, or they immediately find other work, they will face some tough times.

And in other news, Prince Andrew must be breathing relief that the spotlight is off him, for now!

Wow, it seems there are actually people who want them to fall flat on their faces. Or lacking that, will be annoyed if they actually do well. Subtle difference, but…

I don’t know why I am surprised, but I actually am.

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I don’t wish them to fail. I think they will fail without substantial support from the Palace. I don’t follow royals and have very little idea what they are like. I clicked on the thread one slow afternoon and got mixed up ion the discussion. My impression could be totally off. My immediate impression of them didn’t inspire a charismatic figure who pulls in millions year after year. They could be my kid ditching a stable job to start something. If it is well thought out, I would lend full support and catch them if they fail. If they didn’t think it through tho, I need to hold them accountable in some way to discourage a repeat. At the same time, I wouldn’t want to see them suffer too much. Did I say I feel for the parents?

They do have a giant safety net. They can always return to the palaces and the payments from the royal family if their adventure fails at any time.

Do we know Harry won’t still continue to get money from Charles?

I expect he will until such time as he reaches his goal of goal of financial independence. That may never occur.

I would think it unlikely the couple can make enough, after tax, at least in the near future, to pay the costs of their staff (3-5 million), security (10 million), housing (unknown, but at market rates expect several million).

Billions of people have no support from palaces yet manage to “succeed.” They can become independent if they truly want to. They will have to give up some of their perks, but it’s certainly possible.

Will they? I have no idea. I have no knowledge of what their intentions are here, what has actually transpired behind the scene, the depth of their commitment, etc.