London: Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle are being evicted from their home on the British royal family's Windsor estate. Frogmore Cottage was a wedding gift to them from the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2018.
They were told to vacate the property a few days after the publication of the tell-all memoir 'Spare'. The couple has been living in California since 2020. They have also been engaged in media projects revolving around their experiences as members of the British royal family.
The couple reportedly spent $2.9 million to refurbish the home. Being evicted leaves them without a UK base. After stepping down from their royal duties, they agreed to pay back the money because it was the taxpayers' money.
Frogmore has security because it is on a private estate around Windsor Castle which protects it from press intrusion, royal watchers, terrorist attacks, and assassination attempts. Harry and Meghan, if they come to the UK, will lose the protection of guards that come with the home. Their private security is not legally allowed to carry guns in the country or speed through red traffic lights.
Reports in The Sun and Daily Telegraph said the home is now offered to Prince Andrew, King Charles III's brother who had a scandalous few years. Some reports said that the royal has turned down the house. Andrew's younger daughter Eugenie and her husband lived on the property for a while but they have moved out since then.
King Charles has been interested in slimming down the monarchy for a long time and he is working on reducing expenses. Prince Andrew's £250,000-a-year grant was a possible cut that forced him out of his current residence. The 30-room Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate has massive upkeep costs.