“We can confirm that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex havevacated Frogmore Cottage,” Sir Michael Stevens, Keeper of the Privy Purse, revealed in an official statement.
Harry, Meghan and their two children at Frogmore Cottage. Photo / Netflix
“The Duke and Duchess have repaid the expenditure incurred by the Sovereign Grant in relation to the renovation of Frogmore Cottage, thus leaving the Crown with a greatly enhanced asset.”
Frogmore Cottage was given to the Sussexes by the late Queen Elizabeth II after they wed in 2018. The Windsor property underwent various renovations – amounting to a whopping £2.4 million (NZ$5 million) paid by taxpayers – prior to the couple moving in. The pair are said to have since repaid the cost of the home’s extensive upgrades.
Earlier this year, news broke that King Charles had demanded his son Prince Harry vacate the property just a few days after his bombshell memoir Spare hit shelves.
The Sun reports that the Sussexes’ possessions that were left at Frogmore Cottage have now been shipped over to their home in Montecito, California just days before the deadline date set by King Charles.
Since the Sussexes moved stateside, Frogmore has been largely unoccupied. Photo / Netflix
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex – along with their kids, Archie, 4, and Lilibet, 2 – currently live the US in a $21 million (NZ$35 million) mansion with nine bedrooms.
However, The Sun revealed that should Prince Harry want to use it in the foreseeable future while visiting the UK, a “private agreement” would be needed with his father - who he allegedly is on frosty terms with at the moment.
When Harry and Meghan’s eviction from Frogmore Cottage was announced in March, royal author Omid Scobie spoke of the couple’s reaction to the hard-hitting news.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Frogmore cottage where they’ve since been evicted from. Photo / Netflix
“It all feels very final and like a cruel punishment,” an insider reportedly told him.
“It’s like [the family] want to cut them out of the picture for good.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex lived at Frogmore Cottage for just under a year before stepping back from royal duties and moving to the US in early 2020.