Frogmore Cottage renovations repaid in full, but couple walked away with no ownership rights
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from their royal roles and relocated to the U.S., they didn’t just leave behind titles and royal duties—they also parted with £2.4 million invested in their former Windsor home, Frogmore Cottage.
Originally granted to the couple by Queen Elizabeth II as a royal residence, Frogmore Cottage was never legally owned by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. According to property expert Terry Fisher of We Buy Any Home, “It was gifted to them for use… but they didn’t have legal ownership — which means the final say over what happens to it has always rested with the monarch.”
Despite this, the couple funded an extensive renovation of the Grade-II listed property using money from the Crown Estate—an amount they later fully reimbursed upon stepping back from their royal roles in 2020.
Upgrades to the home included eco-conscious features like a low-carbon heating system and major interior redesigns. But the investment, while meaningful, didn’t translate into any property rights.
“It’s more like an extended loan — and when that time ends, it’s returned to the Crown,” Fisher explained.
The loss was more than financial. Frogmore Cottage held deep sentimental value for Harry and Meghan. It was their first home as newlyweds and the early childhood home of Prince Archie. The property also featured in personal moments shared in the couple’s Netflix docuseries.
Ultimately, the Sussexes’ multi-million-pound investment became part of the cost of choosing a new life—one that meant letting go of both privilege and property in the royal fold.
