Harry and Meghan 'paying £18,000 a month rent' on Frogmore Cottage while they live in LA
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will reportedly pay £18,000 a month rent on their Windsor cottage as they cover the costs of renovations from before they stepped back as senior royals.
The couple hand intended to live in Frogmore Cottage, in the grounds of Windsor Castle, during married life, and carried out extensive works on the home, which was in disrepair.
But the Duke and Duchess of Sussex agreed they would have to repay the taxpayer-funded work when they and the rest of the Royal Family set out the terms of their departure from their senior roles.
Now it’s emerged the couple will pay rent on the cottage, which they will stay in on UK trips, at a rate of £18,000 a month.
The Mail On Sunday reported the monthly rent will cover the commercial value of the home and help cover the repayment of the renovations.
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The couple could be paying that rate for more than 10 years before the debt is fully repaid.
Frogmore Cottage was converted into one home from five apartments after the Queen gave it to the couple as wedding present in 2018.
It was renovated with £2.4m taxpayer money, but the duke and duchess paid for fittings.
The BBC reported at the time that Sir Michael Stevens, Keeper of the Privy Purse, pointed out that the property had been earmarked for work to keep up the royal estate.
Prince William and Kate spent £4m renovating offices in Kensington Palace to become their home in 2014.
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The duke and duchess are currently living in Los Angeles with their son Archie, who turned one earlier this month.
It’s reported they are not paying rent on the mansion they are staying in in California, where they are in lockdown.
Yahoo UK has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.
The couple have been unable to launch their new nonprofit organisation Archewell since their official departure from senior royal roles at the end of March.
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But they have been using their time in lockdown to work with a handful of charities, including using Archie’s birthday to help Save The Children fundraise.
The couple are said to be eagerly awaiting the publication of a biography about their royal lives called Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family, which is due out on 11 August.
Written by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, the book is touted as the true story of the couple’s experience.
A spokesman for the Sussexes told The Times the couple are “relaxed” about the authors’ access to people close to them, but denied the duke and duchess had a sit down-interview with them beforehand.
A royal source told The Times: “The rest of the royal family will not be telling their side of the story.”
