The Frogmore estate where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex formerly lived was home to The Hermitage
Frogmore Cottage, the former home of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, is a far cry from their Montecito lifestyle with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The Sussexes famously resided in one of the more modest of the properties in the royal portfolio, though there was once another fairytale cottage on the estate that has gone unnoticed by royal fans.
The sprawling land in Windsor Park was once home to The Hermitage. The quaint countryside home was designed by Princess Elizabeth, the third daughter of George III, who passed away in 1840.
The Royal Collection Trust shared details of the cottage which has been memorialised in a beautiful watercolour drawing by Samuel Howitt.
According to the artist, the property was “built in 1775 at the cost of £44,000”, while the artwork was acquired by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The Royal Collection Trust also revealed that according to a contemporary description of 1823, “the interior was lined with moss and was furnished with such accommodation as a recluse may be supposed to want – wooden utensils, rude seats, and a rough table, covered with an excellent imitations of fruit, while a picture of a venerable hermit graces one corner.”
Frogmore Cottage today
Though The Hermitage no longer stands, Frogmore Cottage is very much still a gem in the crown of the royal property portfolio.
The home, which covers over 5,000 square feet, offers four bedrooms and a nursery, as well as four bathrooms. The renovation costs to transform it into such reportedly cost £2.4 million under the instruction of Prince William’s brother and sister-in-law and was covered by the Sovereign’s Grant.
Upon their removal to the United States, Harry and Meghan, who were leasing Frogmore by permission of his grandmother the late Queen, repaid the costs.
The home featured a modern kitchen with a large island and atmospheric downlighting. It also had a sprawling garden where Prince Harry enjoyed playing with the dogs.
The estate holds many memories for the couple as not only did they live there in their first married years, but the neighbouring Frogmore House provided the backdrop to their engagement photoshoot.
Princess Eugenie sublet the home from Prince Harry from November 2020 to May 2022, when she reportedly vacated the property along with her husband Jack Brooksbank. The pair have since picked up sticks and moved to the Algarve.
In March 2023, after the Sussexes were asked to vacate the property by King Charles, Eugenie’s father Prince Andrew was reportedly offered the cottage in exchange for surrendering his lease on Royal Lodge.
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Source: Los Angeles Times (edited)
