Meghan and Harry have given Spotify just 35 minutes of content so far in their £18m deal

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have so far broadcast just 35 minutes of podcast content on Spotify as part of their £18million deal –  as a royal expert says the streaming giant will be expecting ‘something in return’.  

The Duke, 36, and Duchess of Sussex, 39 – who are parents to two-year-old Archie –  welcomed Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor earlier this month, on June 4 at 11.40am in Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, California. 

And before stepping back into their various business engagements the couple will ‘both take some proper time off’ to adjust to life as a family of four at their £11million mansion in Montecito, California, a source close to the couple told Vanity Fair. 

Prince Harry’s paternity leave means taking time out from his executive position at a Silicon Valley start-up that claims to be worth $1.7billion.

For the couple the time-off also means temporarily stepping back from their multi-million-pound deals with Netflix and Spotify – which Harry told Oprah Winfrey he was persuaded to sign when he was ‘literally cut off financially’ from the Royal Family. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during a visit to youth-orientated radio station, Reprezent FM, in Brixton, south London, 2018

The Sussexes were last heard on their Archewell Audio Spotify podcast for the 2020 Christmas special, and the platform had planned for ‘a full-scale launch of shows’ in 2021. 

It is understood that the couple will be paid the full £18million fee after their duties have been met, The Sun reports.

Royal author Phil Dampier told The Sun: ‘We’re being told they’re having up to five months off and people who are paying them a lot of money will expect something in return.’

Mr Dampier questioned whether the couple may ‘have too much on their plate’ after securing numerous deals and agreements before the birth of their daughter.   

Harry & Meghan holiday special now available on Spotify – the 34 minute episode is the only content available so far, aside from a three minute trailer for the podcast

Prince Harry’s paternity leave means taking time out from his executive position at a Silicon Valley start-up, BetterUp (pictured on their website)

Prince Harry is ‘chief impact officer’ at mental health services business BetterUp, where he helps promote an app used by corporate giants including Hilton, Facebook and oil firm Chevron to improve the wellbeing of their staff.

The company’s chief executive Alexi Robichaux has declined to say how much the royal is being paid, although similar roles at other California firms would command six or seven-figure salaries. 

Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in a joint statement after signing the deal with Spotify last year: ‘What we love about podcasting is that it reminds all of us to take a moment and to really listen, to connect to one another without distraction.

‘With the challenges of 2020, there has never been a more important time to do so, because when we hear each other, and hear each other’s stories, we are reminded of how interconnected we all are.’ 

MailOnline has contacted Spotify and Archewell Audio for comment.