The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's former Grade II-listed home, Frogmore Cottage, could be slated for further renovations less than a decade after it was converted for the couple. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's former Windsor residence might undergo another revamp, according to reports.
Background of Frogmore Cottage
Frogmore Cottage was a wedding gift to Harry and Meghan from the late Queen Elizabeth II in May 2018. The property, originally consisting of five separate units, was transformed into a four-bedroom home plus a nursery before the birth of their son Archie in 2019. The works, which were planned regardless, reportedly cost £2.4 million. The couple lived at Frogmore for only 10 months before relocating to the United States. They repaid the £2.4 million to cover the renovation costs and rental fees following their move to California. Initially, the expenses were covered under the Sovereign Grant arrangement, funded by public money in exchange for the King's surrender of revenue from the Crown Estate.
Potential Future Plans
Current options being considered include dividing the property back into smaller units, among other possibilities. Early assessments have been conducted to determine whether splitting the cottage into separate apartments is feasible, but no definitive plans have been established. As of now, no work for a potential conversion has been confirmed or started, according to a source. The property remains unoccupied, and no future tenants have been identified.
Other Royal Connections
Earlier this year, Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was offered Frogmore Cottage in exchange for the lease of Royal Lodge, where he had lived for decades. The disgraced former duke left the sprawling Royal Lodge earlier this year and moved to a more modest home on King Charles's Sandringham estate. Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, lived at Frogmore Cottage for approximately two years after moving there in November 2020.
Details of the Cottage
Frogmore Cottage is part of the Frogmore estate in Windsor, spanning around 5,000 square feet with five bedrooms and four bathrooms following the 2020 renovation. It was originally built in 1801 at the order of Queen Charlotte, costing £450 at the time. Before the Sussexes rented the cottage, it was used as five staff apartments. The 2018/19 royal accounts stated: 'The scheme consisted of the reconfiguration and full refurbishment of five residential units in poor condition to create the official residence for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their family.'
