The disgraced royal is said to have requested Frogmore Cottage for his new residence amid growing public outrage over his current living arrangements at Royal Lodge
Frogmore Cottage has been part of the royal family’s property portfolio since the 19th century, but it really came to public attention as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s first marital home.
The couple were in possession of the Windsor residence from 2019 until March 2023, when they were told to evict after quitting royal life in January 2020. And now the property looks set to have a new royal resident – Prince Andrew.
According to reports, the disgraced Duke has been convinced to finally give up Royal Lodge on the condition that he is given a new house in Windsor. He is said to have requested Frogmore Cottage – and as a result, will get to enjoy the major renovations Harry and Meghan previously undertook.
The couple initially revamped the Grade 2-listed cottage using £2.4 million of taxpayer’s money – but they later paid it back in full by making a contribution to the Sovereign Grant.
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When Frogmore Cottage was built, it originally had 10 bedrooms, but after Harry and Meghan’s renovation it became a five-bedroom property. It also now includes two orangeries, a vegetable garden and a yoga studio, reports House & Garden.
The couple reportedly turned to Vicky Charles of Charles & Co design studio to oversee the interiors of their home. Charles was best known for decorating Soho Farmhouse and worked for Soho House for 20 years before starting her own practice.
Harry and Meghan gave fans a sneak peek inside Frogmore Cottage in their Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan, which was released in December 2022.
Viewers got to see their country-style kitchen, boasting a marble-topped kitchen island with built-in cupboards and pendant lights hanging overhead. There were open shelves with hanging saucepans and other homely touches, including flowers, plants, and artwork.
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Through both the documentary and pictures shared on the couple’s social media accounts, fans also had a peek inside the bathroom. One image showed Archie in a huge roll-top bathtub, with vintage-style taps, and ornate tiles on the walls.
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.”
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The couple last spent time at the cottage in 2022, when they came to the UK to attend the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. They also hosted their daughter Lilibet’s first birthday there.
It was reported that Harry’s cousin, Princess Eugenie, and her husband Jack Brooksbank moved into the property in 2021 after they had their first child. But it appeared to be a temporary arrangement, with reports stating they moved out only a few weeks later.
Reports that Andrew could be set to move into the cottage come after it was revealed that he has paid barely any rent on Royal Lodge for more than two decades.
The revelation helped to explain how he and his ex-wife Sarah have been able to afford to remain in the huge 30-room estate. And it also added to the ongoing pressure for him to finally give it up.
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Andrew and Sarah live together in separate wings at the Lodge, despite divorcing in 1996. But calls for the scandal-ridden former couple to evict the sprawling property are now at an all-time high.
Buckingham Palace has long tried to place pressure on the King’s younger brother to voluntarily give the residence up, including Charles reportedly cutting his annual allowance last year.
Andrew is said to have tried to dig his heels in and cite the terms of his “cast iron” 75-year lease with the Crown Estate. But in the face of public outrage, he has seemingly been convinced to move out.
A friend of Andrew and Sarah added that the plan the couple have put forward will serve as “a fresh start for both”.
They said: “Frogmore Cottage is too small for both and Adelaide Cottage is around the corner, so they will see each other whenever they want.
“Both have space for their daughters Eugenie and Beatrice and their families to visit.”