arry and Meghan made a deal with Buckingham palace not pay rent Frogmore cottage after they paid back £2.4 million of taxpayers’ money for the refurbishment, it has been reported.
According to the Mail on Sunday, the Sussexes had to pay a “commercial rate” for the five-bedroom house on the Windsor estate, which would cost them between £150,000 and £230,000 a year.
But the couple’s rent obligations were wiped clean after they paid for work to be completed on the house.
They will not renew their lease when it expires later this month, the newspaper reports.
Frogmore cottage
/ PA archiveA spokesperson for Palace said: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have contributed £2.4 million to the Sovereign Grant for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage. They have fulfilled their financial obligations with regard to the property.
“In accordance with standard practice for the Sovereign Grant report, the accounting treatment has been scrutinized and approved by the National Audit Office and the Treasury. As with any such agreement between landlord and tenant, further details of the Sussexes’ leases would be a private matter.
Buckingham Palace announced in November 2019 that the Sussexes would have Frogmore Cottage as their official residence.
The couple renovated the property, transforming it from a series of separate cottages into one large house.
When they quit their role as senior royals and moved to California in 2020, they agreed to refund money for work done after expressing a desire to become “financially independent”.
In the wake of Megxit, a Palace spokesman said the couple would continue to pay rent for Frogmore Cottage.
They paid five months’ rent, but quit after paying a lump sum of £2.4 million in a deal that was not disclosed by the palace.
Harry and Meghan have received invitations to attend the King’s coronation on May 6, but have not confirmed whether they will attend.
However, Buckingham Palace staff have been told to plan as if the couple were there and all arrangements are taken into account, including cars, seats at Westminster Abbey and dining.
The couple have started using prince and princess titles for their children Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 21 months.
Harry and Meghan’s children became prince and princess upon their grandfather the king’s accession to the throne six months ago, but the Sussexes used Lili’s title publicly for the first time earlier this month when they announced their daughter’s baptism.
Archie and Lili are now listed on royal.uk’s line of succession as Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
Previously they were Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor and Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.
The siblings are sixth and seventh in line to the throne, having each moved up one place after the late queen’s death.
A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan said the decision to use the titles “has been made for some time in agreement with Buckingham Palace”.
“The children’s titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became monarch.
“This matter has been settled for some time in coordination with Buckingham Palace,” said the spokesperson.