Harry and Meghan lived at Kensington Palace, the residence of Prince William and Kate Middleton, after their royal wedding in 2018. But then they moved again, briefly to Nottingham Cottage, and finally to Frogmore Cottage on the grounds of Windsor Castle. The late Queen Elizabeth gave this house to them as a wedding present.
According to reports, the pair paid the Royal Family $3.3 million in September 2020 to keep their license in place, even after moving to the United States, and it was valid until March 2022.
Sir Michael Stevens, Keeper of the Privy Purse, told reporters that “the payment covers all their [Harry and Meghan’s] current obligations” during the introduction of an annual report into the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant, which pays for the royal family’s public duties, according to People.
The Sovereign Grant, which paid for Frogmore Cottage’s renovations, was significantly bolstered by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, according to Stevens.
According to the Royal Family’s official website, “Her Majesty the Queen will always be the owner of Frogmore Cottage.”
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will maintain their support for the Monarchy and ensure that their family always has a place to call home in the United Kingdom by using Frogmore Cottage as their official residence, with permission from Her Majesty the Queen.”
But things were different after Queen Elizabeth II passed away. After Charles ascended to the throne, part of his plan to reduce the size of the monarchy included requesting that Harry and Meghan be forced from their UK-based home.
A representative for Harry and Meghan verified the information. The spokeswoman told Vanity Fair, “We can confirm the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been requested to vacate their residence at Frogmore Cottage.”
There are rumors that Prince Andrew, who has been residing in a thirty-room Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park since 2003, has been offered the residence instead.
The King wants Andrew to relocate into Frogmore Cottage, but Andrew is “resisting,” according to The Sun. The tabloid was informed by a royal source that “this definitely spells the end of Harry and Meghan’s time in the UK.”
Omid Scobie, a royal researcher and novelist, claimed that Harry’s book had King Charles “spitting mad,” which surely had an impact on the decision to kick the prince out. At the same time, Scobie writes, Harry’s relationship with his family had also hit “an all-time low.”
“It feels like a harsh punishment and very final,” a friend of Harry and Meghan’s stated. “The family seems to want to permanently remove them from the picture.”
At the time, people close to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said the couple was “stunned” by the choice.
“Harry and Meghan have until early summer to move out,” a Yahoo! reporter for Scobie was informed by a source. They were originally only allowed a few weeks, but now they have at least until the coronation.
“It feels like a harsh punishment and very final,” a friend of Harry and Meghan’s stated. “The family seems to want to permanently remove them from the picture.”
More information regarding what actually transpired is now available. In his most recent book, Endgame, royal novelist Omid Scobie—who is rumored to have been pals with Harry and Meghan—wrote that King Charles desired to punish the Sussexes. He also referred to it as a “cheap shot.”
According to the author’s referenced sources, one “important” factor in Harry and Meghan’s eviction was “undoubtedly” related to the Netflix series’ premiere a few weeks before.
Because of the armed guards stationed around the estate, Scobie asserts that Frogmore was Harry and Meghan’s “only safe place to stay when visiting the UK.”
Scobie claims that Harry, taken aback by his father’s choice, gave him a call a few days later and said, “Do you want to see your grandchildren?”
“A half-hearted declaration that they would always have’somewhere to stay'” was subsequently made by Charles.
That “didn’t give Harry much hope,” though.
Although losing a house is never easy, royal analyst Tom Quinn even goes so far as to say that Harry saw his father’s decision as “vindictive.”
Quinn stated to the Mirror, “Although the news of Harry’s move may have leaked in the last few days, the truth is that Harry moved discreetly as long ago as June 29, 2023, the day he and Meghan were forced out of Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate. This week’s newly filed business paperwork in the US include that date.
“At the time, few people realized what a slap in the face the eviction from Frogmore felt like for Harry—it was the last straw,” the royal expert continued.
The fact that Prince Andrew was offered the land further infuriated Harry.
According to Scobie in Endgame, “For Charles, the issue of Frogmore Cottage wasn’t just about punishing his son, though sources say that ‘undoubtedly’ played a significant role.”
“It was also a component of the endeavor to simplify the family’s portfolio of properties.”
Scobie continued, saying, “It was not a decisive action by a resolute King to stay mum about Harry’s accusations and remain publicly unconcerned for his son’s welfare while ending his family’s lease on a safe UK residence.”
“So small” is how Harry and Meghan put Frogmore Cottage.
“The entire structure is slightly slanted, featuring extremely low ceilings.” Therefore, I don’t know who was there previously, but they must have been quite short,” Harry remarked. Meghan laughed and revealed that Harry would frequently “knock his head since he is so tall.”
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