Residential History of the Sussexes
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle plan to return to the United Kingdom for an extended duration this month. This shift follows their 2018 departure from senior royal duties and subsequent move to California. Reports indicate their children, Archie and Lilibet, will begin school in the region this September.
Public interest remains high regarding where the couple will reside upon their return. During their initial years as a couple in England, they occupied three specific properties. Each residence played a distinct role in their life before the 2020 transition to life in the United States.
Nottingham Cottage
Nottingham Cottage served as the first home for the couple. Located on the grounds of Kensington Palace, the Victorian structure features two bedrooms and spans 1,324 square feet. Prince Harry moved into the property in 2013, long before he and Markle began their life there in 2017.
Conditions inside the cottage proved challenging. In a Netflix docuseries, Prince Harry noted the building had low ceilings and a noticeable lean. Markle remarked on the physical space, noting the couple often hit their heads inside the small rooms. Despite these structural quirks, the location is significant as the site of the couple’s 2017 marriage proposal.
Frogmore Cottage Renovations
Following their marriage in May 2018, Queen Elizabeth II provided Frogmore Cottage as a wedding gift. Located in Windsor, the house underwent a 2.4 million pound renovation process. The project transformed the five-dwelling property into a single residence with five bedrooms and four bathrooms.
Financial details of the renovation emerged later. In September 2020, the couple reimbursed the taxpayer-funded portion of the 2.4 million pound cost to the Sovereign Grant. By 2023, the couple received notice of eviction from the property, a decision royal author Tom Quinn described as a source of significant distress for the Duke of Sussex.
The Cotswolds Farmhouse
Between 2018 and 2019, the couple leased a property known as Westfield Large. This Oxfordshire farmhouse sat on 4 acres and included a converted barn with two kitchens. It provided a private retreat where the couple entertained guests, including George and Amal Clooney, away from public view.
Their stay at Westfield Large ended prematurely. A helicopter-chartered paparazzi incident compromised the security of the home, leading the couple to vacate the premises. A May 2019 Buckingham Palace statement noted that photos taken of the home’s interior made the residence untenable for the family. The agency responsible for the images later issued a formal apology for the breach of privacy.