The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been asked to vacate their UK home, Frogmore Cottage after a series of dramas strains their relationship with the Royal Family.
Harry and Meghan have been residing in the UK before relocating to Canada and eventually settling in California. Despite being far away from the royal family, they continued to be a topic of discussion in the media due to their various public appearances and interviews.
Strained relationship between royals
One of the most notable interviews that the Sussexes conducted was with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, in which they discussed their decision to step down from their roles as senior members of the royal family. The interview garnered a lot of attention and controversy, with many people taking sides and either supporting or criticizing the couple.
Following the interview, there were reports that the couple's relationship with the royal family had deteriorated even further. In the midst of all of this, the couple also made headlines for their various business ventures. They signed multi-million dollar deals with streaming services like Netflix and Spotify, and they launched their own line of podcast content.
To add fuel to the fire, Prince Harry released his tell-all memoir Spare in January, in which he details the devastating impact of his mother’s death and his struggles within the Royal Family. Among other things, the Duke also wrote about his feud and physical clash with his brother, Prince William, who is the future king. The book immediately became a success and is now the fastest-selling nonfiction book ever, according to the Independent.
Severe punishment for Harry and Meghan?
Prince Harry and Meghan have lived in California following their split from the British royal family three years ago.
They still maintained the Frogmore home for visits to the U.K, however. According to Page Six, the Sussexes stayed at the property when they returned to the UK last year to attend the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations during the summer.
However, Harry and Meghan have been asked to vacate Frogmore Cottage, the couple’s official UK residence, according to NPR. A spokesperson told the publication:
'We can confirm The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been requested to vacate their residence at Frogmore Cottage.'
The property, which is owned by the Crown Estate, was gifted to the couple by the late Queen Elizabeth II and is situated in a corner of the Windsor estate. The Sussexes renovated the property before moving in, which caused controversy, as £2.4 million of taxpayers' money was spent on the refurbishment. After they stepped back from public life, they relocated to California and have since paid back the public money spent on refurbishing the property, reports CNN.
King Charles is outraged at Harry and Meghan
A friend of the Duchess of Sussex was quoted as saying that the Sussexes were 'stunned' by the development, which felt like a cruel punishment. The Independent reports that it is 'impossible to believe this isn't' the monarch reacting to his youngest son's controversial memoir Spare.
RS Locke, a royal expert, pointed to reports that the couple was asked to vacate Frogmore Cottage 'within days of the book's release' and that the eviction was 'transparently punitive'. She said:
'Evicting the Sussex family from Frogmore Cottage is transparently punitive and King Charles wanted the couple and the public to know it.'
Meanwhile, royal expert Tom Bower told Page Six that Harry himself provoked his father King Charles III into making the eviction:
'Harry and Meghan provoked him [King Charles] with Harry’s disgraceful book and the interviews he gave. It all feels very final and like a cruel punishment.'
The Sussexes will have to make arrangements to have their remaining belongings shipped from the 10-bedroom royal residence to California.
Without a permanent residence in the U.K., it’s unclear whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will travel for the coronation (if they are invited by the King). Meanwhile, King Charles has reportedly offered keys to Frogmore Cottage to Prince Andrew, who is being asked to move out of his 30-bedroom home, Royal Lodge.
Read more:
⋙ King Charles' unexpected reply to Prince Harry's possible return to UK
⋙ King Charles III: is Prince Harry welcome at the coronation?
⋙ Harry and Meghan's house where they filmed Netflix docuseries up for sale
⋙ Prince Harry and Meghan Markle give fans a glimpse inside their first UK home
