The official UK residence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Frogmore Cottage, has been requested to be vacated by the British Monarchy. The couple’s spokesperson confirmed to CNN that they have been asked to leave their residence at Frogmore Cottage. This request follows a report in British newspaper The Sun claiming that the property, owned by the Crown Estate, has been offered to Prince Andrew, one of King Charles III’s brothers.
Buckingham Palace issued a statement on the matter, stating that they would offer no comment, with the royal sources indicating that it is a private family matter. Although Prince Harry and Meghan currently reside in the United States, they had retained Frogmore Cottage as their UK base. The property, a gift from the late Queen Elizabeth II, is located within the Windsor estate in the west of London.
The couple faced controversy after using £2.4 million (about $3 million) of British taxpayers’ money for the refurbishment of the cottage. Subsequently, they repaid the public money following their relocation to California. The refurbishments included the removal of a chimney, roof refinishing, new staircases, fireplace installations, and a new “floating” wooden floor, all of which were detailed in planning application documents to the local council. The couple privately funded the cost of all fittings, fixtures, and furnishings.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stayed at Frogmore Cottage upon their return to the UK last year, including during their attendance at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations during the summer. Currently, Prince Andrew resides nearby at the Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate. The Duke of York stepped back from royal duties in 2019 after a controversial interview about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
The request for the couple to vacate the property reportedly came days after the release of Harry’s memoir “Spare” in January. The memoir offered insight into his personal struggles and experiences, following previous public appearances and interviews with Oprah Winfrey, in which the couple made several allegations about the royal family and their experiences within it.
