Royal Family Plans to Strip Frogmore Cottage of Harry and Meghan’s Renovations, May 30

The Crown Estate is exploring plans to undo the £2.4 million ($3 million to $4.6 million) renovations made by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. The property has remained empty since King Charles evicted the couple in 2023. Officials are considering subdividing the home back into separate residential units to erase traces of the Sussexes and make the property more attractive to future royal household members.

Why the Property Sits Empty

Frogmore Cottage was gifted to Prince Harry and Meghan by Queen Elizabeth II in 2018 as a wedding present. The couple spent £2.4 million converting two semi-detached houses into one family home. After stepping back as working royals in 2020, they moved to California. King Charles formally evicted them from the property in 2023 following the release of Harry’s memoir Spare. The cottage has remained vacant for three years, with even Prince Andrew declining to move in after his own eviction from Royal Lodge.

Plans to Reverse the Renovations

According to reports from royal sources, officials are assessing whether the home can be subdivided back into multiple units. The goal is to “return it to the pre-Meghan and Harry era,” according to palace insiders. No construction has begun, but assessments are underway. The Crown Estate owns the property and collects rent from royal residents unless the monarch waives fees.

What the Renovations Included

The original £2.4 million renovation, funded by the Sovereign Grant, included replacing ceiling beams, heating systems, and wiring. The work also covered high-tech surveillance equipment and security staff quarters. Harry and Meghan personally paid for furnishings, curtains, and garden landscaping. After leaving royal duties, Harry repaid the full amount to the Crown Estate following public criticism about the cost.

Symbolic Closure for the Monarchy

Palace sources told media outlets that Frogmore Cottage has become a symbol of the monarchy’s breakdown with the Sussexes. Stripping away the renovations is viewed as a “powerful symbolic gesture” to close that chapter. One source said the property is “no longer viewed simply as a former royal residence” but as a reminder of public family tensions and the couple’s departure from royal life. The effort reflects a desire among royal staff to reclaim the estate and move past the Sussex era.

Final Thoughts

The Crown Estate’s plan to reverse Frogmore Cottage’s renovations marks a formal end to the Sussex chapter in royal property management. No construction has begun, but the symbolic move signals the monarchy’s intent to erase visible reminders of Harry and Meghan’s time in the royal family.

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