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Evening Standard
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Lowenna Waters

What is Nottingham Cottage? Harry and Meghan discuss ‘small’ cottage in Netflix documentary

Nottingham Cottage

(Picture: Snowdon)

The last three episodes of Harry and Meghan’s six-part series were released on Thursday, December 15, an in the new episodes, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex spoke out about the challenges of living in their Kensington Palace cottage, Nottingham Cottage.

The couple said that the cottage was “so small” that it led Oprah to exclaim: “No one would ever believe it!”

The Sussexes, who lived in Nottingham Cottage when Meghan first moved to London, said that their first home “sounds like a palace” but, for them, it wasn’t.

Speaking in the documentary, Prince Harry said: “As far as people were concerned, we were living in a palace.”

“And we were...in a cottage...” Meghan and Harry clarified, in unison, adding: “In palace grounds.”

Meghan then said: “Kensington Palace sounds very regal, of course it does.

“It says ‘palace’ in the name! But Nottingham Cottage was so small.”

Prince Harry added: “The whole thing’s on a slight lean, really low ceilings. I don’t know who was there before, they must have been very short.”

Meghan continued: “He [Harry] would just hit his head constantly in that place because he’s so tall.

“It was just a chapter in our lives where I don’t think anyone could believe what it was actually like behind the scenes.”

But, what is Nottingham Cottage, and who was it built for? Here’s everything you need to know.

What is Nottingham Cottage and who was it built for?

Nottingham Cottage, also known as “Nott Cott”, is located on the Kensington Palace grounds, in London. It was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, and it derives its name from Nottingham House, the residence of the Earl of Nottingham.

It has two bedrooms and two reception rooms. It also has a bathroom and a small garden. The ceilings are noted for being particularly low, and it’s been reported that Prince William had to stoop whilst living there in order to avoid hitting his head.

It is 1,324 square feet in size, and it stands near two other grace-and-favour cottages, Ivy Cottage and Wren Cottage.

It is one of the smaller homes in the Kensington Palace grounds, and it was acquired by King William III and Queen Mary II for £20,000 in 1689, reports The Telegraph.

Former residents include Marion Crawford, the Queen’s childhood governess, the Duke of Edinburgh’s private secretary Brigadier Sir Miles Hunt-Davis, and Princess Diana’s sister Lady Jane Fellowes and her husband Sir Robert Fellowes, reports The Telegraph.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also lived there briefly, taking Prince George home there after he was born in 2013 before they moved to Apartment 1A.

Shortly afterwards, Prince Harry moved in, and the cottage became the setting for his UK courtship with Meghan.

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