Prince Harry and wife Meghan have spent £50,000 soundproofing their new home to block out the noise of Heathrow jets flying overhead.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have spent a reported £3million renovating Grade II-listed Frogmore Cottage , in the grounds of Windsor Castle, turning it from five flats into a house.
On average, 14 flights pass within a mile of the house every half hour.
On one day this week, that included a BA jet, which passed over the roof at 3,000 feet at 1pm. At 1.25pm, a Virgin flight flew over at just 1,800 feet.
The soundproofing measures are thought to include triple-glazed windows.
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Windsor resident Karen Shawcroft said: “You do get used to it, but sometimes it’s an awful racket. A few people have been round to quote for that type of soundproofing, but it’s a great upheaval and is a lot of money.”
The building work on Frogmore Cottage, which was a gift from the Queen, will be covered by the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant, but it is expected that Harry and Meghan will pay for the soundproofing.
The couple are leaving a two-bedroom Kensington Palace cottage to move to the five-bedroom house, with yoga studio and guest annexe, as they prepare to be parents.
Meghan, 37, who is expecting their first child in weeks, has worked closely with builders during the renovations.
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Plans reveal the addition of fireplaces and staircases.
A £50,000 “green” energy unit will provide heat, hot water and electricity and a satellite dish will be put up outside the property.
Frogmore Cottage has not been substantially updated since Heathrow, five miles to the east, ballooned in size to become the world’s busiest two-runway airport, with 1,300 passenger flights every day.
A source said: “Since the Seventies, just staff on the Windsor estate have lived there. Aircraft noise has always been a growing problem. I doubt they’ll spend much time in the garden with all that aircraft noise.”
