What’s next for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after royal family exit

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Wednesday confirmed the unthinkable: they were quitting the royal family. But what does that mean for them?

The bombshell from the couple is unprecedented, and while previous royals such as Princess Diana and Sarah, Duchess of York, have been excommunicated via divorce, the two intend to remain members of the iconic institution.

In a statement, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said they would split their time between the UK and North America while continuing to “honor” their “duty to the Queen” — all the while being financially independent.

So who foots the bill? The famous couple certainly isn’t crying poor.

Prince Harry, 35, and his brother Prince William both pocketed $13 million inheritances from a trust fund set up by their late mother when they turned 30, Fortune reported in 2017.

The prince’s expenses are also covered by the Duchy of Cornwall, a private estate overseen by this father Prince Charles, according to the report.

According to the Prince of Wales’ financial records, he shelled out $11 million covering the duties of his sons and their wives between 2018 and 2019.

Markle, 38, was also worth millions before she met her prince — raking in $450,000 a year for her role on legal drama “Suits,” the UK Mirror reported.

But news of the couple’s half-hearted abdication have royal watchers wondering who will pick up the check for their new lifestyle.

The family will still need a full security detail to follow them around North America and a huge carbon footprint from travel between the UK and North America will “raise eyebrows,” former Buckingham Palace press secretary Dickie Arbiter told the BBC.

“I mean, Harry is not a poor man, but to settle yourself in two different continents, to raise a family, to continue to do your work — how’s the work going to be funded?” Arbiter said Wednesday.

“How is their security going to be funded? Because they’re still going to have to have security — who’s going to have to pay for this?” he continued.

There’s also the matter of how much they will retreat from public life.

The two made a bold statement over the holidays when they spent six weeks away from the royal family in Canada with their son, Archie.

On Wednesday, the pair said they would continue to honor their patronages and were excited to launch a “new charitable entity.”

Prince Harry founded the hugely-successful Invictus Games for wounded veterans, while Markle recently launched “Smart Works” — a clothing line which helps women find employment opportunities.

After her 1996 divorce from Prince Charles, Princess Diana lost her “Her Royal Highness” title but still lived in an apartment in Kensington Palace and became even more involved in her work with AIDS victims and the HALO landmine trust.

In 1936, Edward VIII — Queen Elizabeth’s uncle — also abdicated the throne so he could marry twice-divorced American woman Wallis Simpson.

He also remained a member of the royal family after quitting as king — becoming the Duke of Windsor and then later Governor of the Bahamas.

On Wednesday, Arbiter said Edward VII’s abdication was “the only other precedent,” adding: “There’s been nothing like this in modern times.”