Charles risks having relationship with Harry and Meghan’s children unless they get new royal home
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s children “may not have a close relationship with the King” following the couple’s eviction from Frogmore Cottage, a source claims.
Harry and Meghan were reportedly given ‘weeks’ to pack up their UK home at Frogmore Cottage after Harry’s memoir Spare hit shelves in January.
But in an olive branch to the couple, King Charles may offer Prince Harry and Meghan Prince Andrew’s apartment at Buckingham Palace.
It comes as a source said the pair are concerned that future visits will be “incredibly complicated” if they are forced to stay outside the security perimeters of a royal estate. The Sunday Telegraph reported.
The couple, who moved to California three years ago, are reportedly worried about how the move will affect Archie, three and year-old Lilibet’s relationship with their grandfather.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to be concerned that future visits to the UK will be “incredibly complicated,” a source claims.
Following Harry and Meghan’s eviction from Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, it is now feared King Charles’ relationship with his grandchildren Archie and Lilibet may be affected
Earlier this week, journalist Omid Scobie claimed some members of the royal family were “appalled” by the decision to evict Harry and Meghan, while the couple also reportedly felt “stupid”.
An insider is said to have told him: ‘It all feels very final and like a cruel punishment. It’s like [the family] she wants out of the picture for good.’
But the pair aren’t as “baffled” about the departure as previous reports suggested, believing that “if we have to move, we’ll figure it out on our own,” a source told me. The times.
King Charles reportedly decided to evict Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage over repeated comments about Queen Consort Camilla in his youngest son, Spare’s memoirs.
The monarch has sent notice to the Sussexes on Tuesday to vacate the five-bedroom mansion on Windsor Estate – a move reportedly being supported by his wife and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The decision was apparently a tough one for the King, especially since he wasn’t keen on adding fuel to the ongoing feud with Harry.
But he is said to have reached a point where he believed Harry had “crossed a line” following claims made in their Netflix series and the Prince’s memoir.
Yesterday, the Duke of Sussex sat down with controversial ‘toxic trauma’ expert Dr Gabor Maté for a 90-minute talk in which he talked about grief, healing and mental health.
Royal observers said Harry was careful not to attack members of the royal family during the conversation in which he did not mention his brother Kate or Camilla.
In the £17-per-ticket livestream event, which includes a free copy of his memoir, Spare, Harry discussed his drug use, his perspective on the war in Afghanistan and how he “felt different” from his family growing up.
It comes as preparations are underway for King Charles’ coronation in May, amid speculation Harry may not be able to attend his father’s coronation.
But many hopeful relations between the two parties can be after the Mail on Sunday revealed that King Charles may be offering Prince Harry and Meghan’s old suite to Prince Andrew at Buckingham Palace when they visit the UK.
In another royal property carousel, it was also revealed that the Duke of York could get a £1.5 million windfall if he leaves Royal Lodge this year.
A government document seen by The Mail on Sunday reveals that Prince Andrew would be entitled to a rebate on the money he spent refurbishing the 30-room Windsor property when he first moved in two decades ago.
The Duke of York – who was photographed at the Windsor estate yesterday smiling broadly at a jogger behind the wheel of his Range Rover – acquired the lease in August 2003, a year after the death of the Queen Mother who had lived there
He then spent more than £7.5 million on renovations. Under the terms of the lease, he is entitled to a discount if he moves within 25 years. It’s calculated on a sliding scale, so if he leaves this year – 20 years into the deal – he could get £1.5m back.
The document states: ‘Should the Duke wish to terminate the lease, the property would revert to the Crown Estate.
St James’s Palace is the oldest royal palace in London
Prince Andrew may be forced to leave the Royal Lodge in Windsor and go to Frogmore Cottage
Prince Andrew, pictured driving his hybrid Range Rover on The Long Walk at the Windsor estate yesterday, could receive a £1.5m cash rebate which he spent on renovating his home
‘The Estate can then be obliged to pay him compensation for the renovation costs incurred. The maximum compensation of just under £7 million is subject to annual discounts for the first 25 years. At the end of that period, no compensation is due.’
King Charles would be annoyed that Andrew insists on wanting to stay at Royal Lodge, which costs an estimated £3 million a year to guard.
There are now plans to offer Andrew Frogmore Cottage when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex move out.
The Duke of York was photographed on horseback. Details of his lease at the Royal Lodge were made public in 2005 after Labor MP Ian Davison asked for the information
A source said: ‘Royal Lodge just isn’t right for the Duke anymore. He is a single man who lives with his ex-wife who owns a home in London.
‘Due to the scale of Royal Lodge, two teams are needed [of bodyguards] – a mobile team and a static team – and that is quite an expense. The King is happy to provide security for his brother, but a better use of resources would be to house him in Frogmore Cottage.’
The details of the lease were published in a parliamentary document in 2005 after Labor MP Ian Davidson requested the information.
The document explains how Andrew approached the Crown Estate about acquiring the leasehold of the sprawling estate – which includes a swimming pool and several cottages on site for staff – following the death of the Queen Mother. The royal family instead proposed the commercial lease.
However, the property is said to be too expensive to protect now, as the Duke lost his state-funded police detail when he was forced to step down from royal duties in 2019. He now relies on bodyguards paid by the king.