Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are returning to the UK, but the question of where they will live remains unanswered after their eviction from Frogmore Cottage. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex left their royal lives behind over six years ago, and their return has come as a surprise given their dramatic fallout with the monarchy.
Relations between the couple and the rest of the royal family have been strained since January 2020. The Oprah Winfrey interview in 2021, the Sussex documentary following the Queen's death in 2022, and Harry's memoir Spare in 2023 have all contributed to the tension. The monarchy has responded with public silence on birthdays and Harry's stays in hotels during UK visits instead of royal accommodation.
Eviction from Frogmore Cottage
King Charles evicted Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage, their former home on the Windsor Estate, leaving them without a UK residence. The Sussexes were told to vacate the property days after the release of Spare. The Grade-II listed cottage had been a wedding gift from the late Queen Elizabeth in 2018, and they lived there for under two years before relocating to the US.
The eviction was confirmed by a spokesperson for the couple in March 2023, six months into the King's reign. The property was initially intended for Prince Andrew, who now lives at Marsh Farm.
Plans for UK Return
According to Page Six, sources close to the Sussex family have said the relocation is for an extended period, not permanent. The couple will not sell their $14.5 million Montecito mansion in California. Their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, have already been enrolled in a UK school for the September term.
The BBC reports that the couple intend to stay in a private, non-royal residence outside London. No location has been confirmed, but potential areas include the Cotswolds, which is popular with American celebrities, and is near the King's Highgrove Estate. Harry also has family connections to Northamptonshire, where his uncle Earl Spencer resides at Althorp House, the childhood home of the late Princess Diana.
Family Connections
Harry visited Diana's grave at Althorp House with his children in July. The King reportedly only became aware of the decision to move back to the UK on Sunday, according to Page Six.
