According to a Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell foundation representative, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan, have been ordered “to evacuate” their residence in the United Kingdom; Frogmore Cottage was granted to them by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The statement came after a report in a British newspaper said they had been asked to give up the house by King Charles III, and it was being offered to King Charles’ disgraced brother Prince Andrew, who is “resisting” taking up residence in the royal abode, according to the tabloid.
The rest of Harry and Meghan’s possessions will be moved out of the cottage and transferred to the U.S., according to The Sun, who gave up their full-time royal duties and now reside in California with their two children.
A spokesperson from Harry and Meghan’s Archewell organization said in a statement to CBS News on Wednesday: “We can confirm The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been requested to vacate their residence at Frogmore Cottage.”
As is customary, Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the report or discuss topics the royal family considers private.
Far west of London, amid the expansive grounds of Windsor Castle, the primary residence of the British kings for centuries is Frogmore Cottage. Between 2018 and 2019, Harry and Meghan spent roughly 2.4 million pounds ($2.9 million) renovating the property.
British taxpayers first covered the expense of the renovation through the royal family’s “Sovereign Grant,” but Prince Harry paid it back.
The Sun reports that Harry agreed to continue renting the house from his family for “many years” after paying back the cost of the improvements.
The couple continued to remain in Frogmore Cottage in the UK even after relocating to California to live there permanently. They utilized it to attend Queen Elizabeth‘s burial and celebrate their daughter Lilibet’s first birthday there last year.
But, considering the animosity between the young royals and Harry’s family, exacerbated by the January publication of Harry’s autobiography “Spare,” they have primarily maintained their distance.
Princess Eugenie, Andrew’s daughter, and her husband resided at Frogmore Cottage in 2020, although they have since left. Princess Eugenie is Harry’s cousin.
Days following the publication of Harry’s book, according to The Sun, Harry and Meghan received an eviction notice, and the royal family has not offered them another place to live in the UK.
King Charles is reportedly considering reducing his brother’s royal grant, which effectively amounts to an allowance of more than 250,000 pounds per year, according to The Sun.
If this happens, Prince Andrew may lose his current residence on the grounds of the Windsor estate, which he shares with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson. Whether Harry and Meghan attend King Charles’ coronation in May is still up in the air.
For almost 4 years, Jason Martin has been a freelance writer for newspapers, journals, blogs, books, and online material. He covers the most recent news as well as many other topics.