The late Queen Elizabeth II reportedly rejected a request from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to live at Windsor Castle after deciding it would be "inappropriate," according to royal reports. Before settling into Frogmore Cottage, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to have hoped they could make their home within Windsor Castle following their 2018 wedding.
However, the request was purportedly turned down by the late monarch, who instead gifted the couple Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate – a property they would later describe as their dream home.
Request for Windsor Castle Living Quarters
Harry and Meghan reportedly asked whether "living quarters could be made available" at Windsor Castle after they married at St George's Chapel. The proposal was reportedly "firmly" rejected by Queen Elizabeth, who is said to have considered the idea inappropriate. At the time, only the late Queen and Prince Philip had private apartments within Windsor Castle, making it an unlikely choice for another senior royal household.
Royal Historian's Perspective
Royal historian Hugo Vickers suggested there may have been spare accommodation within the castle complex but understood why the request was declined. He told The Times: "There are empty bedrooms and suites in the private apartments which the Sussexes may have had their eye on, or perhaps some former living quarters in the castle grounds converted into other things. But I can see how it might not be entirely appropriate to have a young family living there."
Frogmore Cottage as an Alternative
Instead, the Queen handed the couple Frogmore Cottage, a Grade II-listed property on the Windsor estate that underwent extensive renovations before Harry and Meghan moved in. The home held special significance for the Sussexes, sitting close to Windsor Castle, where they exchanged vows in May 2018 and later celebrated the christening of their son, Prince Archie.
Generosity of the Queen
Royal expert Katie Nicholl revealed in her book The New Royals that the Queen's decision to give Frogmore Cottage to the couple was viewed as a particularly generous gesture. Quoting Lady Elizabeth Anson, the late Queen's cousin, Nicholl wrote: "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.'"
Harry's Fond Memories
Despite initially hoping for a different residence, Harry later described Frogmore Cottage as the perfect family home. Writing in his memoir Spare, the Duke recalled: "We loved that place. From the first minute. It felt as if we were destined to live there." He also reflected fondly on spending time in the gardens, meeting the Queen's gardeners and even getting to know the estate's swans, including one he affectionately nicknamed "grumpy Steve".
Aftermath of the Royal Exit
Although the Sussexes stepped down as working royals in 2020 and later relocated to California, Frogmore Cottage remained their UK base until they were asked to vacate the property in 2023. The home remains closely associated with one of the happiest periods of the couple's royal life, despite reports that their original ambition had been to live much closer to the heart of the monarchy at Windsor Castle.
