Following their royal wedding in 2018, Harry and Meghan initially resided at Kensington Palace, which was the home of Prince William and Kate Middleton. However, they later relocated to Nottingham Cottage for a brief period before ultimately moving to Frogmore Cottage on the grounds of Windsor Castle. This residence was a wedding present from the late Queen Elizabeth.
Reports were that despite their move to the States, the couple made a payment of $3.3 million to the Royal Family in September 2020 and the place remained licensed to them until March 2022.
During the launch of an annual report into the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant that finances the royal family’s public duties, Sir Michael Stevens, Keeper of the Privy Purse, confirmed to the reporters that “the payment covers all their [Harry and Meghan’s] current obligations,” according to People.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made a substantial contribution to the Sovereign Grant that covered the refurbishment costs of Frogmore Cottage,” Stevens added.
The Royal Family’s official website reads: “Frogmore Cottage will continue to be the property of Her Majesty the Queen.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will continue to use Frogmore Cottage – with the permission of Her Majesty The Queen – as their official residence as they continue to support the Monarchy, and so that their family will always have a place to call home in the United Kingdom.”
However, following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, things changed. With Charles becoming the head monarch, his plan of slimming down the monarchy meant among the rest asking evicting Harry and Meghan from the UK based property.
The news was confirmed by Harry and Meghan’s spokesperson. “We can confirm the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been requested to vacate their residence at Frogmore Cottage,” the spokesperson told Vanity Fair.
Allegedly, the residence has been offered to Prince Andrew instead, who has been living in a 30-room Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park since 2003.
As per The Sun, Andrew is “resisting” the King’s wish for him to move into Frogmore Cottage. “This surely spells the end of Harry and Meghan’s time in the UK,” a royal source told the newspaper.
Royal expert and author Omid Scobie wrote that King Charles was “spitting mad” with Harry’s book, which undoubtedly played a role in the decision to evict the prince. The relationship between Harry and his family had, at the time, also reached “an all-time low,” Scobie wrote.
