The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been living in the UK again since August, but their life looks very different from the one they had when they last lived in Britain six years ago. Back then, they were working royals and lived in a royal home — Frogmore Cottage, a property on the Windsor Castle estate that was a wedding present from the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Harry spoke fondly of Frogmore in his 2023 memoir Spare, writing: “We loved that place. From the first minute. It felt as if we were destined to live there.” The home was larger than their previous royal residence, Nottingham Cottage on the Kensington Palace estate, but they left it behind in 2020 to start a new life in America after quitting royal duty.
King Charles asked them to vacate Frogmore Cottage
While they still had access to the home as their UK base, King Charles put a stop to this in 2023 when he requested they vacate the property and hand back the keys. This was completed by the couple in the summer of 2023.
Since they relocated back to Britain in August this year, some royal watchers have been wondering whether a royal home is back on the cards for the couple. So far, this has not been the case. Instead, it is believed Harry and Meghan, along with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are living at a property outside of London. It is not a royal property and is instead privately rented by the duke and duchess.
Royal Lodge sits empty after Andrew's eviction
The location of the home has not been revealed for security reasons. While it makes sense they do not live in a royal abode, as they are not working royals, some may wonder why they cannot rent a royal property. At the moment, there are some vacant properties and homes, including Royal Lodge — the Windsor mansion formerly home to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor until he was evicted by King Charles following scandals. Since Andrew moved out earlier this year, it has been sitting empty, with its future still unknown.
It was reported on Friday that the King paid Andrew’s £1.5 million repair bill on Royal Lodge, with Andrew now having officially handed back the keys. This repair bill was needed as Andrew reportedly left parts of the home in need of repair. The dilapidations totalled £1.8m, a sum determined by independent advisors, and it is understood that the King stepped in to pay the penalty from his own personal funds. Charles offered his brother the money on loan to ensure the Crown Estate, which generates revenue for the public purse, received the repair bill in a timely manner.
Crown Estate focuses on Royal Lodge's future use
It is believed Andrew will have to pay the King back, although it is not clear how. It has been said that this will be a private matter between the brothers. Though Andrew owed £1.8m, the figure was reduced by a £302,000 rebate because he surrendered the lease early.
A spokesperson for the Crown Estate, which oversees the royal family’s land and property holdings and generates money for the Treasury, said: “The lease for Royal Lodge has ended and our focus now is firmly on its future use and the opportunities to generate additional financial value for the nation from its early return.”
