Harry and Meghan pay back £2,400,000 for Frogmore Cottage renovation
It was thanks to the couple's recent multi-million pound deal with Netflix, according to a source.
Prince Harry has paid back the cost of renovating Frogmore Cottage, his spokesman has announced.
Last year’s royal accounts showed the cost of the renovating the Royal couple’s UK home – paid for from taxpayers’ money – was £2.4 million.
The Grade II listed house in Berkshire was done-up to become Harry and Meghan’s main residence after they got married in 2018.
The couple agreed to pay back the money as part of the plans drawn up when they quit as senior working royals in March.
They now live in a £11 million mansion in California but will continue to stay at the cottage whenever they are in the UK.
Harry had initially agreed to pay off the costs in instalments but has reportedly been able to clear the full amount thanks to the couple’s recent £112 million Netflix deal, a source said.
Harry’s spokesman said in a statement: ‘A contribution has been made to the Sovereign Grant by the Duke of Sussex.
‘This contribution as originally offered by Prince Harry has fully covered the necessary renovation costs of Frogmore Cottage, a property of Her Majesty The Queen, and will remain the UK residence of the duke and his family.’
Frogmore Cottage, built near Windsor Castle in 1801, had fallen into a state of disrepair before the couple moved in.
It took builders working around the clock for about six months to get it ready before the birth of the couple’s son Archie.
Five separate properties had to be turned into one four-bedroom cottage as part of the work.
Renovations included extensive rewiring, the installation of modern gas and water mains and a new kitchen and bathrooms.
At the time the Royals were said to be very specific about their requirements and insisted on features including a tennis court. They also reportedly flew in a designer from the US to come up with plans for the garden.
A source said the couple will still base themselves in Berkshire with their son Archie when visiting the UK and it’s understood they will be paying an unspecified amount in rent.
The source added that the couple would have been back to visit had it not been for the coronavirus outbreak.
Harry and Meghan have repeatedly faced calls to pay the money spent on the cottage back, especially when they decided to retreat from Royal life earlier this year.
Graham Smith, of the campaign group Republic said: ‘Harry should have paid this bill from the outset, rather than expecting the taxpayer to stump up the cash.
‘They’ve now paid for the refurbishment while continuing to use the home whenever they stay in the UK.
‘Their statement claims the cottage is the Queen’s property, which is untrue. It belongs to the Crown Estate, which is there to raise revenue for the Treasury, so we have a right to know what rent they are paying for the place.’
He added: ‘Harry and Meghan have ended their active involvement in royal duties and now live in the US, yet still expect the British taxpayer to provide them with luxury accommodation, always available for whenever they choose to visit.
‘Perhaps they should get a loyalty card with Travelodge and save the taxpayer more wasted money.’
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