Why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s abandoned home Frogmore Cottage is still empty

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are happily settled in Montecito at their sprawling estate with its seven acres and abundance of luxury features. Ahead of their move across the pond, the couple resided at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. Today, the secluded five-bedroom property still lies empty. We unpack why no other royal has moved in and discuss what the couple really thought of the place…

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left the home in 2020, and for three years it was officially known as their “UK base” and they used it for a handful of occasions, including The Platinum Jubilee and Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. In 2023, it was requested by King Charles that they hand the keys back. 

No royal interest 

When Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was forced to give up Royal Lodge, rumours swirled that he was offered Frogmore Cottage as an alternative residence, but that didn’t materialise. Last year, Prince William and his wife, Princess Kate, made the move from Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge. At the time, Frogmore Cottage was also floated as a contender, but it wasn’t meant to be, and that could have been due to the size of the home, with William and Kate deeming it “too small” for their needs. Now, their family home has an impressive eight bedrooms. 

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Too difficult to change

Ahead of Harry and Meghan moving in, they arranged £2.4 million worth of renovations via the sovereign grant, including a new heat pump, replacing ceiling beams and floor and re-plumbing. Everything was also designed as per Harry and Meghan’s taste, including a copper bathtub and Vegan paint on the walls. They were later forced to pay the funds back once they no longer lived in the home. Reserving these decisions to free up the property for another use could well be a costly and lengthy process, which is perhaps why it hasn’t taken place.

What did Prince Harry and Meghan think of Frogmore Cottage? 

While the couple has made their feelings about small and quirky Nottingham Cottage clear, it seems they were much more taken by Frogmore. Writing in his memoir, Spare, Harry described how the couple felt about living at the property. “Meg and I moved our office into Buckingham Palace. We also moved into a new home. Frogmore was ready. We loved that place. From the first minute. It felt as if we were destined to live there,” he said. 

“We couldn’t wait to wake up in the morning, go for a long walk in the gardens, check in with the swans. Especially grumpy Steve. We met the Queen’s gardeners, got to know their names and the names of all the flowers. They were thrilled at how much we appreciated, and praised, their artistry.”