Meghan & Harry Intend to Pay Back $3.1 Million for Frogmore Renovations
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have agreed the terms of their stepping down as senior members of the royal family.
A statement released by Buckingham Palace confirmed that Frogmore Cottage will still be where the Sussexes are based in England.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also intend to pay back the £2.4 million ($3.1 million) used to renovate their home.
The details of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's decision to step down as senior members of the royal family have been announced.
Importantly, Meghan and Harry will continue to reside at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor whenever they are in the United Kingdom. The main change that will take place regarding their property is that the couple will now be responsible for all costs associated with living in and maintaining the house.
As reported by BAZAAR.com's Royal Editor At Large, Omid Scobie, on Twitter, the "Queen has made it clear that Frogmore will remain their UK home (they’ll meet running costs privately)."
— Queen has made it clear that Frogmore will remain their UK home (they’ll meet running costs privately).
— All discussions have been friendly and constructive and all involved pleased with outcome.— Omid Scobie (@scobie) January 18, 2020
It was previously reported that the Frogmore Cottage renovations, which took place before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could move in, cost taxpayers £2.4 million, which equates to approximately $3.1 million. The money for the renovations came from the Sovereign Grant, which is the public money given to the queen for members of the royal family to carry out official duties.
However, in their official statement, released via Buckingham Palace on Saturday, Meghan and Harry made it clear that they hope to pay back the costs of Frogmore Cottage's renovation. Per the statement, "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared their wish to repay Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home."
Scobie also noted that the Sussexes will likely spend more time in North America than in England. As such, Frogmore Cottage could become a costly endeavor for Meghan and Harry. While it's currently unclear what the exact costs of living at Frogmore Cottage might be, as non-working royals, the Sussexes will start paying rent.
For comparison, The Times reported that Princess Eugenie's rent at Kensington Palace "is set with reference to commercial rents but adjusted to reflect the fact that the cottage is behind a security cordon and cannot be commercially let."
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