Prince Harry and Meghan Markle hit with £100,000 tax bill for Montecito mansion

Santa Barbara figures reveal Harry and Meghan were charged £112,000 for 2023, which was paid in two instalments.

The property tax bill has risen in recent years, saddling the couple with rising costs.

Records show in 2022, the duke and duchess were hit with a £110,000 property tax bill.

Meanwhile, the figure for 2021 was £108,000, according to reports in The Sun.

It comes amid reports Prince Harry, 39, has asked former aides to help him plan a comeback from his US exile and spend more time in the UK.

If Harry spent more time in the UK, it would likely help repair his relationship with King Charles.

The father and son duo have had a strained relationship over the past few years, ever since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as working members of the Royal Family in 2020.

Harry spending more time in the UK could see a "rehabilitated" Duke of Sussex stage a partial return to royal life.

However, insiders said Harry and Meghan are not seeking a permanent return from California.

The Duchess of Sussex spoke over the weekend about how she is entering a "chapter of joy" as she spoke at Oprah Winfrey’s book club.

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The 43-year-old was one of several speakers at the event at Godmothers bookstore, in Summerland, California.

Prince Harry's memoir Spare was displayed on the "hometowns heroes" shelf at the glitzy bash, which celebrated the store's opening this weekend.

Speaking at the book club, Meghan said: "I'm looking at this time as my chapter of joy. The more you are able to look at your life and really, truly recognise and be able to be grateful for your life - you have to be grateful for all aspects of it.

"My intentionality is to enjoy this chapter and be able to love through every piece of this as best we can."