Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's huge cost to keep £12m mansion running

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's costly upkeep of their lavish home in Montecito, California, has been analysed by a real estate expert who described the property as similar to a "small boutique hotel".

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved into their dream mansion shortly after quitting the Royal Family and moving to the US in 2020.

Harry and Meghan's Montecito luxury abode boasts a total of five acres of land, featuring nine bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, a pool and a tennis court, as well as extensive gardens and its own chicken coop which the couple have named "Archie’s Chick Inn".

It also features a five-car garage, a guesthouse, a spa, a wine cellar, a gym, a library and a tea house, among other luxury amenities.

Now a real estate expert has touched down on the running costs of the huge £12million home, claiming that it must cost thousands of pounds every year just to look after it.

Eric Bramlett, of real estate company Bramlett Residential, told Fabulous magazine: "Managing a £12million ($14 million) mansion like Harry and Meghan's in Montecito takes a lot of work."

The expert said that running a luxury home like this would require many members of staff which could contribute to high operating costs.

He added that such a mansion would require around 10-15 full-time staff like housekeepers, a private chef and some form of security.

Mr Bramlett explained: "Just paying the staff salaries, utilities, landscaping, maintenance, security, and more could easily cost hundreds of thousands per year."

The expert added that big renovations and repairs would cost even more, saying that it's like "running a small boutique hotel with residential service".

He said: "The costs pile up quick, but it comes with luxury living.

"Keeping a place this big properly staffed and maintained takes major money."