The Duke and Duchess of Sussex live happily in Montecito on their sprawling seven-acre estate, boasting an abundance of luxurious amenities. Before moving overseas, the couple resided at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. Today, this secluded five-bedroom home remains unoccupied. We'll explore why no royals moved there and discuss what the couple really thought of the place...
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left the residence in 2020, and for three years it was officially referred to as their "British base," using it for several events, including the Platinum Jubilee and the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. In 2023, King Charles demanded they return the keys.
A couple packs up Frogmore Cottage (Netflix)
There is no royal interest
When Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was forced to leave Royal Lodge, there were rumors that he was offered Frogmore Cottage as an alternative residence, but this never happened. Last year, Prince William and his wife, Princess Kate, moved from Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge. Frogmore Cottage was also considered at the time, but it never came to fruition, perhaps due to the size of the house, which William and Kate deemed "too small" for their needs. Their family home now boasts eight bedrooms.
Andrew never moved into Frogmore Cottage (UK Press via Getty Images)
Too hard to change
Before moving in, Harry and Meghan undertook a £2.4 million renovation funded by a government grant, including installing a new heat pump, replacing ceiling beams and floors, and replacing plumbing. Everything was also decorated to suit Harry and Meghan's taste, including a copper bathtub and vegan paint. They later had to return the funds when they stopped living in the house. Delaying these decisions to free up the property for other uses would have been a costly and time-consuming process, which is perhaps why it did not happen.
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Frogmore Cottage in Windsor
What did Prince Harry and Meghan think of Frogmore Cottage?
Although the couple clearly expressed their feelings about the small and quaint Nottingham Cottage, they seemed to prefer Frogmore. In his memoir, Spare, Harry described how they felt living in the house: "Meg and I moved our office to Buckingham Palace. We also moved into a new house. Frogmore was ready. We loved this place from the very first minute. It felt like we were destined to live there. »" he said.
Archie spent the first few months of his life in Windsor.
«"We couldn't wait for the morning to go for a long walk around the garden and watch the swans. Especially grumpy Steve. We met the Queen's gardeners, learned their names and the names of all the flowers. They were delighted with how much we appreciated and praised their skills.".