As the renovations that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex ordered on Frogmore Cottage are set to be reversed, one royal expert believes the Palace must be careful on the optics of removing every trace of Harry and Meghan from the Firm’s residences
More than six years after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved out of their home on the Windsor estate, it seems Frogmore Cottage will be getting yet another makeover. When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved into the home, which was a wedding gift from the late Queen, it was transformed from several houses into one larger property, as Harry and Meghan paid £2.4 million to have their new home renovated.
It took almost a year to transform the home for the Sussexes — including creating a yoga studio, replacing ceiling beams and floor joists, rewiring the electrics, and installing new gas and water mains.
But now, those renovations are reportedly set to be reversed, with the property believed to be going back to be several homes. Referring to the royal address’ lengthy past, the source claimed it would “draw the line” under the house’s history and return it to its “pre-Harry and Meghan era.”
Some have speculated that the reversal of the renovations could be the final removal of any trace of Harry and Meghan from royal life, but former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes there is a much more simple explanation.
Jennie told the Mirror : “If these reports are true, I don’t think it should be taken as some sort of vindictive move against Harry and Meghan. The Crown Estate is run as a commercial enterprise with the profits going to the Treasury.
“If the best commercial decision is to make further alterations to Frogmore Cottage, then so be it. However, it does, on the face of it, seem absurd that a recently renovated house cannot be rented out as is.”
She continued: “Obviously there are security considerations in renting out a property so close to Windsor Castle, but arrangements like this are not impossible. And I think the optics of more money being spent on the cottage are quite damaging.”
Some royal commentators have also speculated that the Frogmore renovations could be the final nail in the coffin for Harry and Meghan ever returning to the UK. However, if the Duke and Duchess were to travel to Harry’s home country, it would be unlikely for them to stay on the same grounds as the Royal Family.
Jennie believes that while Frogmore Cottage was their first home as a married couple, they would not hold onto the memories particularly fondly, given how their experience as working members of the Royal Family turned out.
“Harry and Meghan have made their life in California,” the royal expert explained. “I can’t imagine that Frogmore Cottage holds many good memories for them — particularly after they were pressured into paying back the £2.4 million spent on the renovations they wanted.
“But they have drawn a line under that part of their life. If they do ever come back to visit the UK it will presumably be because they have made peace with the King — and could therefore stay in one of the royal residences — or, if things are still strained, they could opt for a hotel, as Harry has in the past.
“And, of course, he still has his mother’s siblings: Aunts Jane and Sarah and his Uncle Charles who have maintained a good relationship with him through all the years of turmoil and bitterness.”
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