Royal officials are considering a plan to split Frogmore Cottage back into two separate dwellings, potentially erasing the roughly $3 million in renovations Prince Harry and Meghan Markle completed before stepping away from senior royal duties, according to a report published May 30, 2026.
Experts are currently evaluating whether the Grade II listed cottage on the Windsor Estate can be returned to its original configuration as two semi-detached residences. Construction work has yet to commence, but the proposal would effectively eliminate the physical footprint of Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, from the property.
The Windsor residence has sat vacant since King Charles III evicted Prince Harry in March 2023, following the publication of his memoir “Spare.” The couple had spent only 10 months actually living at Frogmore Cottage before relocating to Montecito, California, in 2020.
Empty Since 2023
A source described the awkward limbo the cottage has been stuck in ever since: “It’s been empty since 2023. Even Prince Andrew thought it wasn’t good enough for him to move in. Maybe if they get rid of any trace of Harry and Meghan, then someone within the royal household will fancy it. It would draw the line under Frogmore Cottage’s controversial history and return it to the pre-Meghan and Harry era.”
Prince Andrew’s stance, however, appears to have shifted. The Telegraph reported that the Duke of York has agreed to leave Royal Lodge if he can move into Frogmore Cottage — a change of heart from his earlier dismissal of the property as “not grand enough for a prince.”
A Practical Decision, Royal Commentator Says
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams framed the potential reversal as more about ledger lines than legacy: “It is, above all, a practical decision as the Crown Estate knows it is being scrutinised to provide value for money.”
Sources cautioned that returning the cottage to its pre-Sussex condition would require substantial and costly building work. Still, the appetite for a fresh start appears to be growing within royal circles, particularly given the visibility of the original taxpayer-funded refurbishment.
A Cottage With a Complicated Recent History
The late Queen Elizabeth II gifted Frogmore Cottage to the couple as a wedding present following their 2018 ceremony. At the time, the estate consisted of two separate dwellings used as flats for Windsor Estate staff members.
Those units were merged into a single, larger family residence as part of the nearly 12-month transformation, which wrapped in April 2019. The house, which had previously been split into sections for offices, was returned to a single 10-bedroom residence.
The scope of work was significant. Crews replaced ceiling beams and floor joists, completely rewired the electrical system, fitted new gas and water supply lines, and installed a yoga studio. The couple paid for fixtures and fittings themselves.
The Sovereign Grant, the taxpayer-backed fund that supports the royal family’s official duties, initially funded the makeover. After the Sussexes stepped back as senior royals in 2020, the £2.4 million renovation bill drew sharp criticism in the UK, and Prince Harry offered in 2020 to pay back the cost as part of negotiating his new role. The couple repaid the figure in full and began paying commercial rent to the royal estate as part of their move toward financial independence.
The Cottage’s Brief Moment in the Spotlight
Built by Queen Charlotte at the beginning of the 19th century for her daughters, Frogmore Cottage sits north of the Frogmore House estate, about half a mile south of Windsor Castle. Frogmore House itself, built in the 17th century, served as the backdrop for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s engagement photos and their evening wedding reception — a reminder that, even if the cottage’s interior is reconfigured, the grounds will keep their place in the couple’s story.
Even with limited time in residence, Harry and Meghan made memories at the property. They were in residence for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, and reports emerged that they hosted daughter Lilibet’s first birthday at the cottage with a casual picnic party. In August 2022, the couple spent time there preparing for their European tour in September 2022.
The home, along with Prince Harry’s first residence, Nottingham Cottage, also appeared in the couple’s Netflix documentary, which aired in 2022. The kitchen took center stage in one memorable sequence, with Meghan painting her nails while Harry ate a yogurt.
Frogmore Cottage briefly housed other royals, too. In October 2020, reports surfaced that Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank had moved in. The couple had their first child in February 2021 but reportedly moved out within a few weeks of the initial reports.
For now, Harry and Meghan remain based in California, where Meghan’s lifestyle show “Love, Meghan” has received mixed reviews and where the couple continue to build out the multimillion-dollar Netflix partnership they signed after stepping back from royal life.
The proposal, first reported by a British outlet, reflects the ongoing questions surrounding the cottage’s future use.
