Frogmore Cottage was never just another royal residence. It was the first home Prince Harry shared with Meghan Markle as a married couple, the place where they prepared for the arrival of their son, Prince Archie, and the property they spent millions of dollars transforming into a family home tailored to their tastes.
So when reports emerged in late May claiming that the royal household could soon reverse many of the renovations the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made to Frogmore before leaving Britain in 2020, Harry reportedly took the news hard.
According to Closer, Harry views the potential plans as far more than a routine royal property decision. Instead, the magazine claims he sees them as a symbolic rejection at a time when he had hoped relations with his family — or at least his father, King Charles III — were beginning to improve.
Queen Elizabeth II gave Frogmore Cottage to Prince Harry and new bride Meghan Markle when they tied the knot in 2018. By: WPA Pool/MEGA
An insider went even further, describing the development as “a huge slap in the face” for the Duke of Sussex as he continues trying to create a path toward bringing Meghan, Archie and daughter Princess Lilibet back to Britain.
News about Frogmore Cottage’s future
Frogmore Cottage was gifted to Harry and Meghan by Queen Elizabeth II following their 2018 wedding.
The couple moved into the property in 2019 after a major renovation project that converted several smaller units, which once served as staff apartments, into a single family residence. According to reports, approximately $3.2 million was spent modernizing the home, with the Sussexes later repaying renovation costs in full after they stepped back from royal duties.
In May, The Sun reported that officials are reviewing options for Frogmore’s future, including potentially reversing some of the Sussexes’ changes and returning the property to a layout closer to its original configuration.
“It’s been empty for three years. … Maybe if they get rid of any trace of Harry and Meghan, then someone within the royal household will fancy it,” a source told The Sun. “It would draw the line under Frogmore Cottage’s controversial history and return it to the pre-Meghan and Harry era.”
Why Prince Harry reportedly feels hurt
According to Closer, The Sun’s report surfaced at a sensitive moment for Harry.
The magazine reported that the British army veteran had hoped to continue rebuilding ties with his father following a thaw in their estrangement last September and was optimistic about future visits to Britain. So the news that Frogmore could be stripped of the changes he and Meghan made felt deeply personal, Closer claimed.
News that changes could soon be made to Frogmore Cottage surfaced as Prince Harry was reportedly growing more optimistic about improving relations with his father, King Charles III. By: James Whatling / MEGA
“Here he is, throwing all his energy into creating a path where he will feel safe bringing his wife and children home to England and right when he’s sure he’s making progress with his father and getting something worked out for the summer, it comes out that all the wonderful updates they made [to Frogmore] are being ripped apart. How are they not supposed to take that personally?” the insider told Closer.
“He accepts that it doesn’t belong to them, but at the same time he does feel some sense of ownership and attachment to it. The queen gave it to him and he and Meghan poured their heart and soul into making it a beautiful home, so of course it’s upsetting,” the source added.
A personal affront?
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle continued to stay at Frogmore Cottage on their rare trips to Britain between 2020 and 2023 and lent it to his cousin Princess Eugenie and her husband in 2020. But since their formal eviction in 2023, the home has sat empty. By: W8Media / MEGA
According to Closer, Harry believes undoing the changes and improvements he and Meghan made to the property serves little practical purpose.
“He and Meghan both believe it’s being done out of sheer pettiness because financially it makes no sense. They spent a lot of money and made the place more modern and livable. Harry says the only reason he can see to tear it apart is to spite them,” the insider claimed.
The source further alleged that Harry “has let it be known that he is keen to bring Meghan and the children this summer and would love to stay with them at Frogmore.”
“They both love that cottage and would feel at least some sense of comfort since they designed it to their own taste,” the insider added.
Closer also reported that Harry views the move as a “show of disrespect” toward Meghan because she played a major role in shaping the home’s design and atmosphere.
The palace’s view
Frogmore Cottage is about half a mile south of Windsor Castle and was built in 1801 as a retreat for Queen Charlotte. In 2019, it was renovated into a five-bedroom, four-bathroom home for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. By: W8Media / MEGA
Closer suggested there is little sympathy within palace circles.
The magazine reported that royal staff view Frogmore as a Crown Estate property rather than a personal family asset and don’t believe Harry and Meghan should expect involvement in decisions regarding its future.
“Of course, the feeling behind palace walls is that Frogmore and whatever happens to it is none of their business. There’s no universe where anyone on the staff would call them to give them a heads up about changes to a royal property,” the insider said.
“If Harry and Meghan go ahead and air their grievance over this they will not receive any sort of sympathy. They forfeited Frogmore when they gave up their positions as working royals, so they are no longer seen as having any sort of claim to the property,” the source added.
Yet according to Closer, Harry and Meghan remain emotionally attached to the cottage despite their eviction, which Charles ordered shortly after Harry published his bestselling 2023 memoir, Spare.
As another source told the outlet, “It was the first home they lived in as a married couple and for all their horrible times in the U.K. they still have so many wonderful memories there. It’s actually painful for them to think of it getting demolished and they are looking for someone to blame.”