Meghan Markle, 41, and Prince Harry, 38, invested $2.7 million in the renovation of Frogmore Cottage, in addition to paying long-term rent in advance. Will they get reimbursed?
The eviction of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from Frogmore Cottage, their UK residence, was a tough decision made by Charles III, but was prompted by attacks on Queen Camilla in Harry’s memoir, according to reports.
Will Meghan Markle and Prince Harry get a refund?
Meghan and Harry may be owed a “refund” after the surprise eviction from the five-bedroom home, which was a wedding gift given to them by Queen Elizabeth II in 2018.
One question many are asking is whether Crown Estate, who leased Frogmore to the Sussexes, will have to pay a refund to the couple.
Initially the money for the refurbishment came from taxpayers, but Harry and Meghan decided to reimburse Crown State for the cost of the renovations in a deal that included leasing Frogmore Cottage for an unspecified number of years.
When the Sussexes paid off the debt the couple were said to be “relieved and pleased” to reimburse taxpayers the money for the renovations.
It was important to the Duke and Duchess to repay the taxpayers’ money as they were receiving a lot of criticism in the UK at the time.
Meghan and Harry only lived at Frogmore Cottage for 6 months, but from the United States the couple were funding the general upkeep of their former home, acting as the “landlord”, undertaking major works to the exterior of the Grade II listed property.
A senior royal source told the Daily Mail that the rent had been calculated independently and based on market values.
So, if the Sussexes had paid several years’ rent in advance, anticipating that they would return to the UK regularly. Now, the sudden termination of their lease could trigger some repayment.
The Sunday Times’ royal editor, Roya Nikkhah, has insisted that the couple will expect at least some of the money they spent at Frogmore to be returned.
So far it has transpired that the house has been offered to Prince Andrew, who would not be happy to leave Royal Lodge.
Buckingham Palace has refused to comment on Meghan and Harry’s eviction and possible refund.
