Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle have announced that they will be leaving Kensington Palace, where they have until now lived close to Harry’s brother Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and his wife Catherine, and relocate to Windsor some 32km away. They have lived at Nottingham Cottage, in the grounds of Kensington Palace, since their engagement last year.
According to media reports, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will move to Frogmore Cottage, on the Windsor Estate, early next year as they prepare for the arrival of their first child in the spring.
A spokesman for the couple said: “Windsor is a very special place for Their Royal Highnesses and they are grateful that their official residence will be on the estate. The Duke and Duchess’s office will continue to be based at Kensington Palace.”
The development comes after rumours of tension between the Sussexes and the Cambridges. A palace source said: “The initial plan was for Harry and Meghan to move out of their cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace and into one of the main apartments.
“But there has been a bit of tension between the brothers. Now Harry and Meghan don’t want to live next to William and Kate and want to strike out on their own.”
Earlier this month there were claims that the Queen felt compelled to speak to the Duke about Meghan’s attitude in the run-up to their wedding last May following a disagreement over tiaras. The Queen is also said to have questioned why Meghan needed a veil for the wedding, given it was to be her second marriage.
The source said at the time: “Meghan is used to working in a Hollywood environment”, adding that the Duke is said to have told staff before their wedding: “What Meghan wants, Meghan gets.”
The Sussexes’ new home is likely to hold fond memories since they held their evening wedding party at nearby Frogmore House following their marriage in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
Frogmore Cottage has more than enough space for the family to grow, with a nursery for their baby and room for a gym and a yoga studio — should they want one — along with 10 bedrooms. The cottage is divided into five units that were previously home to members of the Royal staff, but it will now be refurbished into a family home with modern amenities.
