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Reuters
The Duke of Sussex has paid the cost of restoring Frogmore Cottage near Windsor Castle.
The cost, estimated at £ 2.4 million in 2018-19, was covered by taxpayers through the Sovereign Grant, but the Duke and Duchess said they would reimburse it when they retired from royal duties.
Prince Harry’s spokesman said he had paid the bill in full by making a contribution to the grant.
The property will remain a residence in the United Kingdom for the Duke and his family.
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It comes days after the couple announced that they had struck a deal with Netflix to do a variety of shows, some of which may appear.
A multi-year agreement will cover documentaries, documentary series, feature films, scripted programs and children’s programming.
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Alamy
Frogmore Cottage sits in a secluded location on the Queen’s Windsor estate in Berkshire.
Frogmore Cottage should have been a pretty lovely family home. Instead, it became one of the reasons Harry and Meghan eventually left Britain and the official side of the Royal Family.
The cost of the renovation – £ 2.4 million in 2018-19, and more to come after that – sparked critical comment and a wave of largely illusory stories about where the money had been spent.
Just as the couple were establishing their first place together and creating a home for their son, they were subject to what they thought was an unfair and intrusive comment.
For decades, taxpayer funding has been a sensitive issue for the Royal Family; it’s a buying point for critics, who point to the Sovereign Grant and security costs and wonder if the monarchy lives extravagantly and offers good value for money.
In negotiations about the couple’s withdrawal from royal duties earlier this year, money was inevitably a serious problem.
It was Harry and Meghan who announced that they would pay the cost of renovating Frogmore Cottage. In this way a line is drawn and the couple can perceive themselves free from any of the obligations they once worked with.
And Frogmore Cottage is empty, a rather lonely monument to an unhappy chapter in real history.
The Duke’s spokesman said of the reimbursement: “This contribution, as originally offered by Prince Harry, has fully covered the necessary renovation costs for Frogmore Cottage, a property of Her Majesty The Queen, and will remain the Duke’s British residence. and his family”.
Last year’s actual accounts showed that the cost of the renovations was £ 2.4 million and was covered by the grant.
It is the money that the government gives to the Queen and pays the salaries of the royal house, official travel and the maintenance of the palaces.
Harry and Meghan agreed to return the money as part of the plans drawn up when they resigned as royalty in March.
