Harry and Meghan’s old home is still empty – a year after they were made to move out
'I don't think, at this point, I would speculate on who will be the future occupants of the cottage.'
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s former home, Frogmore Cottage, has remained empty more than a year after they officially vacated the property.
Palace officials at the annual Sovereign Grant briefing said there were no new tenants in the Grade II Crown Estate property in Windsor Home Park.
It comes after it was revealed that Harry stayed in hotels on recent visits to the UK, rather than at a royal residence.
The Sussexes were asked to move any remaining possessions out of their UK home close to Windsor Castle in 2023, just weeks after the duke criticised his family in his controversial memoir Spare.
A Palace official said: ‘During the year, Frogmore Cottage has remained empty.
‘I don’t think, at this point, I would speculate on who will be the future occupants of the cottage.’
He added: ‘The Sovereign Grant has been fully reimbursed for the refurbishment costs of Frogmore cottage when it was initially provided to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and, therefore, there is no cost to the Sovereign Grant other than some routine maintenance, but it would be required for any of the buildings.’
In 2019, royal accounts showed Harry and Meghan paid £2.4 million to cover the cottage’s refurbishment and rental.
Frogmore was a gift to the Sussexes from the late Queen, but after moving there after the birth of Prince Archie they relocated to the US, only using the property a handful of times afterwards.
It was previously reported the disgraced Duke of York was offered the much smaller Frogmore Cottage in a bid to relocate him from the larger Royal Lodge.
But Andrew was said to have signed a 75-year lease on the Royal Lodge mansion in 2003.
The disgraced prince is understood to be presently living at the property with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
Rumours have even been swirling that Prince William may at one point have been eyeing the mansion for his own family.
A friend of Charles previously said: ‘Unfortunately, if Andrew refuses to leave within a reasonable time frame, then the King may be forced to reassess the whole package of support he provides.
‘And the duke would be required to fund the lion’s share of his security, accommodation and lifestyle costs all on his own – which, given the sums involved, is highly unlikely to be possible in the long term.’
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