Harry and Meghan's £2.4m revamp of Frogmore Cottage could be reversed as plans for empty house considered

Thursday, 28 May 2026 14:02

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage could be reversed under plans being considered for the property.

The Grade II-listed property in Windsor, Berkshire, was gifted by Queen Elizabeth II to Harry and Meghan for use after their wedding in May 2018.

But after a revamp which cost £2.4m and which saw five residential units converted into a family home, the couple decided to quit their lives as senior royals and move to California, US.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex only lived at Frogmore Cottage for about 10 months before moving.

Harry and Meghan later repaid £2.4 million to cover the cottage's refurbishment and rental - the cost of which had originally fallen to the Sovereign Grant, which is met from public funds in exchange for the King's surrender of the revenue from the Crown Estate.

The Sun report that assessments are being carried out to see if the property could be subdivided again, among a range of options.

It is understood that no decisions have been made, and no building work has started, with the exploration looking at options to ensure future occupancy - one of which could be splitting the cottage back into separate homes.

Harry and Meghan, who were living at Frogmore Cottage when they had their first child Archie, were asked to vacate the property - their only UK base - and remove their remaining possessions in 2023, just weeks after the duke's damning memoir Spare was published.

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In 2018/19, royal accounts outlined the work at Frogmore, saying: "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."

Frogmore Cottage was later offered to the disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as part of the bid to remove him from the Crown Estate's Royal Lodge mansion, but he turned down the offer and now lives on the King's private Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

Sky News

(c) Sky News 2026: Harry and Meghan's £2.4m revamp of Frogmore Cottage could be reversed as plans

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