Major renovations at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's home near Windsor have been branded "outrageous" after it emerged that the work cost the taxpayer £2.4 million.
Graham Smith, from the Republic campaign group, noted that the money spent on Frogmore Cottage was part of an increase in overall expenditure by the royals.
"This year's increases are outrageous at a time of widespread spending cuts.
"If even one school or hospital is facing cuts we cannot justify spending a penny on the royals.
"Yet with all public services under intense financial pressure we throw £2.4 million at a new house for Harry," he told the Sun.
Mr Smith compared the renovation bill with a charity's funding of a centre for military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
"A charity spent £2.4 million on a support centre for marines suffering PTSD.
"The taxpayers then spent the same amount on a luxury private home for Harry and Meghan," he tweeted, while linking to an article on the construction of a support hub for Royal Marines in Lympstone, Devon.
Mark Delaney, 57, a builder and decorator who is homeless in Windsor , said the taxpayer cash could have been used for the benefit of those most marginalised.
"That money could have been used to transform the empty buildings in Windsor into places for the homeless to sleep. There are scores of empty rooms in Windsor Castle ," he told the Daily Mirror.
