Prince Harry and Meghan Markle get surprise £11million boost ahead of crunch month

Much has been made of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's ability to continue to fund their lavish lifestyle following the end of their Spotify contract, but now the couple has received a handy cash boost

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have certainly had a dramatic start to 2025 ahead of a pivotal few weeks.

On New Year's Day, Meghan made a sensational return to Instagram, posting on the site for the first time in five years before confirming the air date for her new cookery show, With Love, Meghan. The eight-part series will drop on Netflix on January 15, with the trailer already causing a stir. Meanwhile, Harry is expected to be in the UK in the coming weeks for his legal case against News Group Newspapers.

But despite the crunch time ahead, the couple appears to have received a very unexpected financial boost.

According to data, the value of the couple's Californian mansion has doubled since they bought the property in 2020. The sprawling nine-bedroom home in Montecito was bought by the couple after they quit the UK and royal life for $14.6million (£11.6million). However, new estimates by property website Zillow show that the home could now command upwards of $29million (£23.2million) - meaning the property has increased in value by a whopping £11.6million.

The huge jump comes as California has seen a huge increase in property prices over the last few months. Hannah Jones, a senior economic research analyst for Realtor.com, told Newsweek the average house price in California in the past five years has shot up 29.7 per cent, while in Montecito itself, that figure rises to 47.3 per cent.

But despite Meghan's new show appearing to give a glimpse inside her and Harry's home, it seems it will not be the case. That's because it has been reported that With Love, Meghan was actually filmed elsewhere - at a neighbour's $6million property. According to the Daily Mail, it is owned by Tom and Sherrie Cipolla and it includes eight acres of lemon groves and avocado trees. The house itself is a four-bedroom, four-bathroom archetype of American design, with clean lines and white walls.

The kitchen features From Caesarstone countertops, a large island and cream cabinetry. It also has a Thermador range cooker and Meghan will be using Le Creuset pots and pans. Outside the $6million home, there are fresh vegetables growing in a patch. A promotional synopsis of the show says: "This inspiring series, produced by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, reimagines the genre of lifestyle programming, blending practical how-tos and candid conversation with friends, new and old.

"Meghan shares personal tips and tricks, embracing playfulness over perfection and highlights how easy it can be to create beauty, even in the unexpected. She and her guests roll up their sleeves in the kitchen, the garden, and beyond, and invite you to do the same."

Actresses Mindy Kaling and former Suits star Abigail Spencer, plus chefs Roy Choi and Alice Waters are among the guests who appear on the 33-minute shows. Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Productions helped to make the series and she also gets a credit as one of its executive producers. The couple have a multimillion-pound deal with streaming giant Netflix.

Meghan wrote on Instagram last week: "I have been so excited to share this with you! I hope you love the show as much as I loved making it. Wishing you all a fantastic new year! Thanks to our amazing crew and the team @netflix. Beyond grateful for the support – and fun!"