A royal expert has revealed that when Meghan and Harry moved to Windsor, the Queen “firmly denied” their “inappropriate” request.
When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved to Windsor, just months before leaving the UK and the Royal Family, they made a personal request to Her Majesty.
According to the Times, the couple requested that “living quarters could be made available after their marriage” inside the castle itself, which would only be used by the Queen and her husband, Philip.
According to the publication, Her Majesty “firmly denied” the couple and instead gave them her beloved Frogmore Cottage.
The news comes as the monarchy prepares for the publication of Harry’s explosive memoirs, titled Spare, on January 10 next year.
Windsor Castle has been the Royal Family’s home for nearly 1,000 years; the large estate contains a variety of properties ranging from massive mansions to cozier cottages. Among the current residents are Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales, and Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
According to reports, the Queen deemed the Sussexes’ request “inappropriate” and flatly refused it. Her Majesty then “politely but firmly suggested” that they relocate to the nearby Frogmore Cottage.
Lady Elizabeth, who died in 2020, is quoted as saying: “The cottage was a big deal. The Queen’s entrance into the gardens is right next to their cottage. It is essentially her backyard, her solitude, and her privacy.
“She was giving that up in gifting Harry and Meghan Frogmore Cottage. We all thought it was very big of her. She said, ‘I hope they’ll respect it’.”
According to The Times, the head of state considered their request “inappropriate” and “firmly” rejected it. According to the newspaper, the couple asked if “living quarters could be made available after their marriage.”
Both the Queen and Phillip were living at the castle at the time, and it was suggested that the newlyweds live in nearby Frogmore Cottage.
