The final remnants of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's residency at Frogmore Cottage are poised to be eliminated, three years following their eviction by King Charles. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex invested £2.4 million in transforming two semi-detached properties into a single family residence after the late Queen Elizabeth II granted them the home as a wedding gift in 2018.
Renovation and Aftermath
Two years after completing the extensive renovations, the couple stepped back from their roles as senior working royals and relocated to California in 2020. Harry was required to reimburse the £2.4 million within six months and was formally evicted by King Charles in 2023, shortly after the publication of his controversial memoir, Spare.
Harry now desires to return to the United Kingdom with Meghan and their children, Lilibet (aged 4) and Archie (aged 7), but they no longer possess a residence in the country. The feasibility of their return hinges on whether the Home Office reinstates his taxpayer-funded security, a matter still under review following Harry's series of legal challenges against the UK government.
Potential Subdivision of the Property
Consideration is being given to subdividing the Crown Estate property back into its original semi-detached configuration, as it existed before Harry and Meghan's occupancy. The viability of this separation is under assessment, though construction has not commenced. Insiders indicate it would be a substantial and costly renovation. The couple had merged the two semi-detached houses and added a yoga studio during their tenure.
A source commented, "Maybe if they get rid of any trace of Harry and Meghan, then someone within the royal household will fancy it." Prince Andrew, who was previously considered for Frogmore Cottage after his eviction from Royal Lodge earlier this year, reportedly declined the idea. Another source told The Sun: "It's been empty for three years. Even Andrew thought it wasn't good enough for him to move in. Maybe if they get rid of any trace of Harry and Meghan, then someone within the royal household will fancy it. It would draw the line under Frogmore Cottage's controversial history and return it to the pre-Meghan and Harry era."
Extensive Renovations and Current Status
Other renovations at the property included the construction of a yoga studio, complete rewiring and replumbing, replacement of ceiling beams with floor joists, and luxury furnishings such as a £5,000 copper bathtub and vegan paint by Soho designer Vicky Charles. The work took a year, and the couple moved in just before Archie's birth in 2019. However, they left for Canada later that year and formally stepped down from royal duties in January 2020. They now reside in California but have returned to the cottage for the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee and her funeral in 2022.
