Reports that the royal household may be considering reversing some of the renovations made to Frogmore Cottage have reportedly hit Prince Harry hard, with insiders saying he views the possible changes as more than a property matter and as a personal slight. Frogmore Cottage holds deep meaning for Harry and Meghan Markle. It was their first home as a married couple after their 2018 wedding, the place where they prepared for the birth of Prince Archie, and the residence they transformed into a family home before stepping back from royal duties in 2020.
Queen Elizabeth II gifted the cottage to the couple after their wedding, and they moved in during 2019 following an extensive renovation that combined several smaller staff units into one residence. Reports at the time said about $3.2 million was spent modernizing the property, with Harry and Meghan later repaying the full cost. The home was then used during their occasional returns to Britain, and in 2020 they also lent it to Princess Eugenie and her husband. Since their formal eviction in 2023, however, the house has remained empty.
In late May, The Sun reported that officials were reviewing options for the cottage’s future, including potentially undoing some of the Sussexes’ modifications and restoring the building closer to its original layout. A source quoted by the outlet suggested the goal could be to remove any trace of Harry and Meghan and bring an end to the property’s controversial history. That report was followed by Closer, which said Harry interpreted the news as especially painful because it surfaced while he was reportedly trying to rebuild his relationship with King Charles III.
According to the magazine, Harry had recently become more optimistic about repairing ties with his father and about the possibility of bringing Meghan and the children back to Britain for summer visits. The idea that the cottage could be stripped of the changes he and Meghan made reportedly felt deeply personal. One insider told Closer that Harry sees the home as something he still feels attached to, even if he accepts that it no longer belongs to him. The source said the renovations were carried out with care and meant to make the property more livable and beautiful, which is why the possibility of undoing them has been so upsetting.
The report also claimed Harry and Meghan believe any move to reverse the work would be financially wasteful and motivated by pettiness rather than necessity. Harry reportedly sees the plan as a sign of disrespect toward Meghan, who played a major role in designing the cottage’s look and feel. The couple are said to remain emotionally connected to the home and would welcome the chance to stay there again during a future visit.
Still, palace staff reportedly see the matter differently. According to Closer, they regard Frogmore Cottage as a Crown Estate property and believe Harry and Meghan have no claim to be consulted about any changes. From that perspective, the future of the property is a royal matter, not a personal one.
