The BIG Change Meghan Markle & Prince Harry Made Just Days Before Baby Sussex's Birth
As Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan prepare to become first-time parents, there was one last upheaval the royals needed to endure - moving into a brand new abode. Yes, the Sussexes have official moved from Kensington Palace to their new home in Windsor!
Named Frogmore Cottage, the new space has been under renovations for the past few months in order to make it suitable for the royal baby. Located in Windsor, it will offer the pair a slightly more secluded lifestyle than that offered at Kensington Palace, so it's the perfect place for the couple to raise their new baby.
In fact, a former royal staffer who lived near Frogmore Cottage confirmed to Hello! that the spot is "much more private" than Kensington Palace. "The Queen would put on her wellies and walk her dogs in Home Park. Harry and Meghan can walk their dogs, go anywhere in the park freely."
Here's an aerial view of the property:
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After their royal wedding in May, Meghan and Harry moved into Nottingham Cottage in Kensington Palace, London, where they became next-door neighbours to Prince William, Duchess Kate, and their three kids George, Charlotte and Louis.
However, it was announced in November 2018 that the couple would move out of their two-bedroom home to Frogmore Cottage, which is about an hour away from Kensington.
The couple's big move was announced by Kensington Palace in an official statement, which referenced the couple's first child as a reason for the move. They will still use Nottingham Cottage when they're in town, but Harry and Meghan are making Frogmore their family home: "Windsor is a very special place for Their Royal Highnessess and they are grateful that their official residence will be on the estate."
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While many speculated that the move was due to brewing tension between Meghan and her sister-in-law, Duchess Kate, the main reason is believed to be that Meghan and Harry plan to raise their firstborn there, away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi and the public. (And although the two couples, affectionately dubbed the "Fab Four" might be forging their own paths, they'll still come together through their joint organisation The Royal Foundation, and of course at official family events.)
Even though the new location will entail a slightly longer commute to central London for the pair, it is understood Harry will continue to travel to London for work while Meghan is on maternity leave.
Here are nine things you didn't know about Meghan and Harry's lush new countryside home, Frogmore Cottage:
The cottage had to undergo extensive refurbishments before the royal couple could move it. The renovation took months to complete, as the space had been a little run down (pictured above) and required lots of renovation work to turn it back into a luxury family home. Prior to the renovations, the house had been used as a retreat for both private and official engagements, according to The Sun.
Now that the couple have moved in, we're sure that Meghan will put her personal style stamp on the space — just look at how she styled her home when she was still living the single life in Canada.
It may be a "cottage", but not by ordinary standards. The two-storey, stucco-faced building boasts no less than 10-bedrooms, a new nursery and space for a gym and yoga studio, perfect for yoga enthusiast Meghan! By way of comparison, their current London home only has two bedrooms.
The renovations include a refurbished nursery, created as gender-free and eco-friendly, according to Vanity Fair's royal reporter, Kate Nicholl.
"According to sources who are helping with [their new home] renovations, the nursery itself is going to be very modern. Don't expect to see any baby pink or baby blue," Kate revealed during an interview on Entertainment Tonight. The Duke and Duchess have reportedly gone for a white and grey colour palette!
The Sun previously reported that Meghan is so environmentally conscious to the extent that she tries to stick to a vegan diet during the week - so she was careful when it came to the materials used to decorate Frogmore Cottage. "Meghan has been looking long and hard at paints for the Sussex nursery," an insider told the publication.
The eco paint is packed with immune-boosting properties including eucalyptus and rosemary oils. Hello! also reported the pair have spent a whopping AUD $91,000 on a "green energy unit".
Frogmore Cottage, once known as Double Garden Cottage, was built in the 1680s by King Charles II's architect, Hugh May. It was built along with Frogmore House, the estate that the cottage sits on.
Queen Charlotte purchased the lease in 1792 and used the cottage and house as a countryside retreat for herself and her unmarried daughters. Queen Elizabeth II's former Chef, Darren McGrady, told Hello! magazine that it was also used as accommodation for royal junior chefs and their wives and children. He revealed that the staff quarters were basic and "a little run down."
Remember those stunning engagement photos of Harry and Meghan? They were shot at Frogmore House! It's also where they evening wedding reception was held.
Frogmore Cottage is situated on the grounds of Frogmore House, which itself lies on Windsor Home Park, the Queen's summer residence. While Windsor Great Park is open to the public for a few days a year, the Frogmore residences - all 35 acres of it - are located on the Queen's private grounds (where she walks her corgis!), making it extra secluded and away from prying eyes.
Plus, it has its own private gardens and lake. Perfect for bringing up the new royal offspring.
The name "Frogmore" is derived from the great prevalence of frogs who dwell in the low-lying marshes that surround the cottage and house. In fact, while having breakfast at the cottage in 1875, Queen Victoria remarked in one of her letters that she found the "immense" number of frogs in the area "quite disgusting".
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Text: Bauersyndication.com.au / Additional reporting: Elizabeth Liew