Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have officially relinquished their U.K. residence, Frogmore Cottage, marking the end of their tangible presence in the U.K., according to Sky News. The announcement was made by Sir Michael Stevens, Keeper of the Privy Purse, during an annual briefing on royal finances.
"Safe to say that, as has previously been stated, the duke and duchess have paid for the expenditure incurred by the Sovereign Grant in relation to the renovation of Frogmore Cottage, thus leaving the Crown with a greatly enhanced asset," Stevens declared. He declined to share further specifics about the circumstances surrounding the property's vacating, and it remains uncertain who will be the new tenant.
Speculation has hinted at King Charles III asking Prince Andrew, his younger brother, to move from the Royal Lodge to Frogmore Cottage. However, when questioned, Stevens declined to discuss "any details of the duke's private lease arrangements."
A palace representative echoed these sentiments, stating that the future occupant of the property would be disclosed in the coming year's report.
Frogmore Cottage had been home to the Sussexes since April 2019, not long after their royal wedding. The property underwent substantial renovations ahead of the arrival of their first child, Archie. However, in 2020, the couple chose to step down from their royal duties, relocating to California. There, they welcomed their daughter Lilibet and purchased a mansion in Montecito. The costs for Frogmore Cottage's renovations, totaling around $3.1 million, were repaid to the Sovereign Grant by the end of the year.
Earlier this year, it was reported that King Charles had requested the Sussexes to leave Frogmore Cottage. Some attribute this decision to Prince Harry's memoir "Spare" and his appearances on "60 Minutes" and "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."
In an interview with Page Six, royal author Tom Bower remarked, "Harry wanted the royal family to come on bended knee begging for forgiveness, and he's completely crossed the spectrum, he's in the mad wilderness of deranged victimhood." An unnamed source mentioned to Us Weekly that this development had come as "a shock" to the Sussexes. They also claimed that King Charles viewed the move as "practical," considering that "the Sussexes are so rarely in the home and it needs to be occupied and maintained by a full-time resident."