More than six years after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle vacated their residence on the Windsor estate, Frogmore Cottage is reportedly set for another transformation. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved into the property, a wedding gift from the late Queen, after it was converted from several smaller houses into one larger home. They personally funded £2.4 million in renovations, which included a yoga studio, new ceiling beams, floor joists, rewiring, and updated gas and water mains.
Renovations to Be Reversed
Now, those alterations are expected to be undone, with the property likely reverting to multiple homes. A source indicated that this would "draw a line" under the cottage's recent history and return it to its "pre-Harry and Meghan era." Some observers view this as the final removal of the couple's presence from royal life, but former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond offers a more pragmatic perspective.
Jennie told the Mirror: "If these reports are true, I don’t think it should be taken as some sort of vindictive move against Harry and Meghan. The Crown Estate is run as a commercial enterprise with the profits going to the Treasury. If the best commercial decision is to make further alterations to Frogmore Cottage, then so be it. However, it does, on the face of it, seem absurd that a recently renovated house cannot be rented out as is."
Security and Optics
She added: "Obviously there are security considerations in renting out a property so close to Windsor Castle, but arrangements like this are not impossible. And I think the optics of more money being spent on the cottage are quite damaging." The expert emphasized that the decision should not be seen as personal, but rather a commercial necessity.
Royal commentators have speculated that these changes could be the final barrier to Harry and Meghan returning to the UK. However, if the couple were to visit, it is unlikely they would stay on the same grounds as the Royal Family. Jennie believes that despite Frogmore Cottage being their first marital home, it holds few fond memories for them.
"Harry and Meghan have made their life in California," she explained. "I can’t imagine that Frogmore Cottage holds many good memories for them — particularly after they were pressured into paying back the £2.4 million spent on the renovations they wanted. But they have drawn a line under that part of their life. If they do ever come back to visit the UK it will presumably be because they have made peace with the King — and could therefore stay in one of the royal residences — or, if things are still strained, they could opt for a hotel, as Harry has in the past. And, of course, he still has his mother’s siblings: Aunts Jane and Sarah and his Uncle Charles who have maintained a good relationship with him through all the years of turmoil and bitterness."
