Harry and Meghan finally clear out Frogmore Cottage and hand keys to Charles

29 June 2023 , 06:53

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The last of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's belongings have been shipped to the US (Image: Getty Images)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle finally handed back keys of Frogmore Cottage to King Charles yesterday nearly six months after being served their eviction notice.

The couple's remaining possessions have been shipped to California and their former residence looks set to be rented out - despite their £2.4million makeover of the property just four years ago.

But now Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will no longer have a UK home and may have to rely on hotels or friends if they visit.

Several royal properties are now empty, amid renewed scrutiny of royal spending.

Frogmore Cottage, in Windsor, Berkshire, is now another vacant royal property (REX/Shutterstock)

Courtier Sir Michael Stevens said yesterday: “We can confirm that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have vacated Frogmore Cottage.

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"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."

Frogmore, which is in Windsor, Berkshire, has five bedrooms and a large garden.

The couple have handed back keys of Frogmore Cottage to King Charles (Peter Dejong/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

It is only around five miles from Royal Lodge, home to Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York. Andrew has been served eviction notices of his 31-room mansion since allegations of sexual abuse came to light in 2019. He denies the allegations.

It is reported today Andrew may move from Royal Lodge to Prince Harry's old residence.

The Sussexes, meanwhile, would have to reach a “private agreement” with Charles if they wanted to stay at any royal homes again, The Sun says.

The cottage was refurbished by Harry and Meghan in 2019 (Daily Mirror)

But the couple were served their eviction notice days after Harry's book Spare was published in January.

A fortune was spent on renovations, which Harry repaid to taxpayers.

Now, Buckingham Palace and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester’s former apartments at Kensington Palace are among other royal properties, which remain vacant.

King Charles III ordered staff in royal palaces to turn the heating down (Getty Images)

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But the King this month ordered staff in royal palaces to turn the heating down to save cash.

Guests, staff and the Royal Family were living with temperatures set at 19C during the winter and a few degrees lower when rooms were empty, an official report revealed.

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Charles has also urged the royal household to get behind a sustainability drive amid Britain’s cost of living crisis – even turning the heating off in the Buckingham Palace pool.

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