New Zealand Herald’s Diana Elser breaks down the estimated $23.81 million Meghan and Harry have lost since they left the royal family.

It was reported in mid-August 2020 that the couple had exchanged their rented Beverly Hills house for a home in Montecito, a posh seaside community approximately two hours north of Los Angeles.

According to the Daily Mail, the couple paid a deposit of approximately $7.4 million for the property, and their annual household costs are believed to be around $6.26 million, which includes $680,000 for mortgage payments, $5.9 million for security, and $424,000 for chefs, gardeners, and housekeepers.

Prior to Megxit, Charles’ Duchy of Cornwall estate had been funding Harry, his brother Prince William, and their families to the tune of $10.9 million every year, or approximately $5 million for each.

Then there’s Frogmore Cottage, Harry and Meghan’s official residence in the United Kingdom and a festering sore point. The improvements to the house, which the couple had selected over the Kensington Palace residence that had been made available to them, cost $4.66 million in Sovereign Grant money, it was disclosed in 2019. This high-priced renovation quickly became a sledgehammer used by the press to smear the Sussexes. It was reported in September of last year that they had returned the whole amount of grant money used to finance the project.

When you add it all up – their new home deposit, household operating expenses, the amount of Duchy of Cornwall cash they’ve given up, and the cost of Frogmore — the total comes to $23.81 million.

Meghan and Harry fans attack William over racism

Following England’s defeat to Italy in the European Championship on Sunday, Prince Willliam went to Twitter to express his displeasure with the “racist abuse” directed at some of the country’s black soccer players.

“It is totally unacceptable that players have to endure this abhorrent behaviour. It must stop now and all those involved should be held accountable,” he posted on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Twitter account.

Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka, three of England’s Black players, faced a barrage of racist remarks online, prompting William’s post. After a tight penalty shootout in which all three players missed their attempts, the squad lost 3-2 to Italy. Monkey and banana emojis, as well as other racial remarks, were used in the online harassment.

While some applauded William’s anti-racism stance, others chastised the future King for criticizing racism in sports but not in Meghan and Harry’s allegations.

He defended his family when the Duchess of Sussex spoke out about her racism experience in an interview with Oprah Winfrey on March 7.

During an explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in March, Meghan and Harry claimed there were discussions regarding Archie’s skin color before he was born.

Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, a British-born Nigerian novelist, lawyer, and women’s rights campaigner, made a typical remark. “Prince William if you had led by being sickened, vocally & visibly against racist abuse at your sister-in-law #MeghanMarkle, for yrs, your words would have legitimate credibility right now. Your silence/complicity fuelled what you condemn today.”

“See the hypocrisy, where were you when your brother’s wife was being harassed, vilified??” one individual said.

“Where was this energy, William?

“You would have even kept quiet than putting out this statement, you must be even the one who questioned the baby’s skin colour.”

This isn’t the first time the royal family has been involved in a racist incident in recent months, but the handling of the two instances could not be more different.

Following William’s announcement on Monday, Twitter user Love, Lola noted that Meghan Markle was trending in the United States.

“Many were calling out his hypocrisy,” the Twitter user said before providing images of the 22 verified accounts she claimed to have discovered condemning the Duke.

“Yet, you were ok with Meghan Markle being the victim of rampant racism from members of Royal Family,” another commented.

“You can’t have it both ways.”

“You have the ability to condemn racism — not just in soccer — but when it’s directed at your own family members. Please use that power. It would speak volumes,” royal analyst Kristen Meinzer said on Twitter.

The remarks made by Harry and Meghan to Oprah Winfrey in March reignited debate over the United Kingdom’s colonial past, with campaigners claiming that the country’s elite institutions, including the monarchy, have fostered classism and racism that persist in modern-day Britain.

Buckingham Palace issued a short statement in response to Meghan and Harry’s accusations, stating, “The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.”

It’s not the first time William has spoken out against racism in soccer.

During a royal engagement in September 2019, the duke claimed he was “fed up” with racism in soccer and posted a tweet about online harassment players experienced in February.