Late Queen ‘hoped’ Harry and Meghan ‘would respect’ her gift after she rejected their request

According to reports, when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married in 2018, they requested to live within Windsor Castle itself. However, the late Queen Elizabeth II deemed this request “inappropriate” and instead gifted them Frogmore Cottage, a nearby property on the Windsor Estate. At the time, only the Queen and Prince Philip had private apartments within the castle, while other royal family members resided elsewhere on the estate.

Royal expert Katie Nicholl’s book “The New Royals” reveals that the late Lady Elizabeth Anson, who passed away in 2020, shared insights about the Queen’s decision. Lady Elizabeth quoted the Queen as saying that gifting Frogmore Cottage to Harry and Meghan was a “big deal” because the cottage was located right next to the Queen’s entrance to the gardens, which she considered her private space and solitude. The Queen reportedly hoped that the couple would respect her generosity in giving up this space for them.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that Harry and Meghan had been evicted from Frogmore Cottage, with the keys reportedly offered to Prince Andrew in exchange for his Royal Lodge residence. A source close to the couple stated that they were not shocked by the decision and realized they had a home in California. The source added that while they were privileged to have had a second residence, they accepted that change was inevitable as the King planned to have a slimmed-down monarchy.

The Windsor Estate has been home to the Royal Family for nearly 1,000 years, with various properties housing different members of the family. The Queen’s decision to gift Frogmore Cottage to Harry and Meghan, despite their initial request for a different residence, highlights the late monarch’s firm yet gracious approach to managing the estate and the expectations of her family members.