Queen Elizabeth II was once forced to reject Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's "inappropriate" housing request, it was reported. Following their marriage, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were given Frogmore Cottage in the grounds of Windsor Castle as a grace and favour home. However, according to reports, the couple actually requested a different property, but the late Queen thought it "inappropriate" and "firmly" rejected it.
Request for Castle Living Quarters
According to The Times, Harry and Meghan wanted to live within the Castle itself and reportedly asked if "living quarters could be made available after their marriage." At the time, only the monarch and the late Prince Philip had private apartments within the actual castle, with everyone else living elsewhere on the vast estate.
However, the monarch reportedly "politely but firmly suggested" that they live in nearby Frogmore Cottage instead.
Queen's Generosity Recalled
A further claim about the late Queen's decision to give her grandson and his wife the impressive home as a wedding gift was made in royal expert Katie Nicholl's book, The New Royals. Ms Nicholl wrote that the late Lady Elizabeth Anson, who died in 2020, said Queen Elizabeth II described the Windsor home as a "big deal" and shared her hopes that Harry and Meghan would "respect" her generosity.
Lady Elizabeth told Ms Nicholl: "The cottage was a big deal. The Queen's entrance into the gardens is right next to their cottage. It is essentially her backyard, her solitude, and her privacy.
"She was giving that up in gifting Harry and Meghan Frogmore Cottage. We all thought it was very big of her. She said, 'I hope they'll respect it.'"
Other Homes Considered
However, before they were granted Frogmore, a number of other homes in Windsor were reportedly put forward as possible residences for the couple. One of which was Adelaide Cottage, the former home of the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The family moved to Windsor from London in 2022, but Prince William and Catherine decided to relocate to a short distance away to their "forever home", Forest Lodge, in November 2025.
