The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's home renovation at Frogmore Cottage cost £2.4 million in taxpayer funds, according to royal accounts. The 19th-century Grade II-listed property in Windsor was converted from five separate homes into a single residence for Prince Harry and Meghan, who moved in April before the birth of their son Archie.
The couple paid for fittings, but the core refurbishment—including replacing defective wooden beams and floor joists, updating inefficient heating systems, extensive rewiring, and installing gas and water mains—was funded by the Sovereign Grant. The grant, derived from profits of the Crown Estate, totalled £82 million in 2018-19, with £33 million set aside for maintenance.
Sir Michael Stevens, Keeper of the Privy Purse, said the property had not been renovated for years and was already earmarked for work. The refurbishment took about six months, though some areas like exterior repainting remain incomplete.
The spending has drawn criticism. Graham Smith of Republic, a campaign group, called for a parliamentary inquiry, stating: “The general funds of the Treasury should not be spent on individual members of the royal family at all.” The group questioned why public money was used while public services face financial pressure.
Palace officials emphasised that the couple paid for any upgrades beyond basic fixtures. The renovation follows a similar pattern for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who spent over £4 million converting offices into an apartment at Kensington Palace in 2013.
