The extensive renovation of Frogmore Cottage, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s former UK residence, could be reversed under plans reportedly being explored.
The Grade II-listed property, nestled within Windsor Castle’s Home Park, underwent a significant £2.4 million overhaul in 2018.
This costly project converted five separate residential units into a single family home for Harry and Meghan. However, the couple resided there for only around 10 months before moving to the US, leaving the cottage vacant.
The Sun reports that assessments are underway to determine if the property could be subdivided again, among a range of options.
It is understood that no decisions have been made and no building work started, with the exploration aiming to ensure future occupancy.
One option is splitting the cottage back into separate homes. The Duke and Duchess were asked to vacate their sole UK base in 2023, just weeks after the duke’s damning memoir Spare was released.
The decision was interpreted as a major rebuke by the King to his youngest son, who since moving to North America in 2020 has lambasted the monarchy, alleging racism and a lack of support.
Harry and Meghan later repaid £2.4 million to cover the cottage’s refurbishment and rental – the cost of which had originally fallen to the Sovereign Grant, which is met from public funds in exchange for the King’s surrender of the revenue from the Crown Estate.
In 2018/19, royal accounts outlined the work at Frogmore, saying: “The scheme consisted of the reconfiguration and full refurbishment of five residential units in poor condition to create the official residence for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their family.”
The late Queen Elizabeth II had gifted the property, managed by the Royal Household, for use by the Sussexes after their wedding.
After moving there ahead of the birth of Prince Archie, Harry and Meghan relocated to California, only using the property a handful of times afterwards.
Frogmore Cottage was later offered to the disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as part of the bid to remove him from the Crown Estate’s Royal Lodge mansion, but he turned down the offer and now lives on the King’s private Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
