The Cozy Charm Of Frogmore Cottage: A Bedroom Tour

Frogmore Cottage, a Grade II-listed home in the grounds of Windsor Castle, has been the subject of much intrigue, owing to its royal occupants over the years. The cottage was built in 1801 by Queen Charlotte for her unmarried daughters and has since been occupied by several notable figures, including Queen Victoria's personal assistant, Abdul Karim, and Russian royalty, Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna, in the 1920s. More recently, it was offered to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as their official residence by Queen Elizabeth II, and extensive renovations were carried out, including converting the previously sectioned house into a single residence. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved into the cottage in 2019, and it is reported to have had five bedrooms, a nursery, and four bathrooms at the time. However, some sources describe it as a ten-bedroom house, and it is believed that renovations reduced the number of bedrooms to five.

Renovations

The renovation work included replacing floor joists, ceiling beams, rewiring the electrical system, and installing new gas and water mains. The house was returned to a single residence, with five bedrooms, a nursery, and four bathrooms. Two orangeries were added to the house, as well as a yoga studio and a vegetable garden. Soundproofing was also installed to block out noise from planes using the nearby Heathrow Airport, which cost £50,000 and was paid for by the Duke and Duchess themselves. The couple also contributed to the cost of the renovation work, which totalled £2.4 million, with the rest coming from taxpayer money.

The interior designer Vicky Charles, who has worked with the Clooneys and the Beckhams, was brought in to decorate the home. The Duchess of Sussex is a fan of Soho Farmhouse, another project by Charles. The couple opted for vegan and organic paint in the nursery and an eco boiler. They also had alcove bookcases installed alongside new fireplaces and vanity units.

Previous occupants

Frogmore Cottage was originally known as Double Garden Cottage and was built for £450 by a Mr Bowen in 1801. It was constructed under the direction of Queen Charlotte, who used it as a retreat for herself and her unmarried daughters. In 1875, Queen Victoria had breakfast at the cottage and noted the "immense number of little frogs", which she found "quite disgusting".

In the 1840s, the cottage was inhabited by the theologian Henry James Sr. and his family. Queen Victoria's personal secretary, Abdul Karim, moved into the cottage in 1897 with his wife and father. In the 1920s, the cottage was occupied by Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna, a Russian royal in exile.

In the early 21st century, the cottage was divided into five separate units housing Windsor estate workers. In 2019, it was converted into a single-family home for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, ahead of the birth of their son, Archie. The couple made extensive renovations to the property, including turning it into a five-bedroom residence with two orangeries, a yoga studio, and a vegetable garden. They also added soundproofing to block out noise from nearby Heathrow, which cost £50,000.

In 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they would be stepping down as senior working members of the royal family and relocating to North America. They offered to repay the Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of the cottage, which amounted to £2.4 million. In November of the same year, Princess Eugenie, the younger daughter of Prince Andrew, and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, moved into Frogmore Cottage. They vacated the property in 2022.

In March 2023, it was reported that Prince Andrew had been offered Frogmore Cottage in exchange for surrendering his lease on the nearby thirty-room Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park.

Current occupants

Frogmore Cottage is currently vacant. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, vacated the property in 2023, with the annual Sovereign Grant report confirming that the Grade II-listed cottage is now empty.

The couple, who moved into the cottage in 2019, had been using it as their UK residence, but in 2020, they stepped down as senior working members of the royal family and relocated to North America. In 2023, they settled in Montecito, California, in the United States, and their licence to occupy Frogmore Cottage was not renewed.

Despite their move, Frogmore Cottage remained the Sussexes' UK residence, and they allowed Princess Eugenie, the younger daughter of Prince Andrew, and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, to live there temporarily. Princess Eugenie and her family moved out in 2022.

In March 2023, it was reported that King Charles III had offered Frogmore Cottage to Prince Andrew, but it is unclear whether he has taken up residence there.

History

Frogmore Cottage, located in the grounds of Windsor Castle, is a Grade II-listed building constructed in 1801 at the direction of Queen Charlotte. Originally known as Double Garden Cottage, it was built for £450 by a Mr Bowen and used as a retreat for Charlotte and her unmarried daughters.

In the 1840s, theologian Henry James Sr. and his family lived at the cottage. Queen Victoria's personal secretary, Abdul Karim, moved into the cottage in 1897 with his wife and father. In the 1920s, the cottage was occupied by Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna, a Russian royal in exile.

In the early 21st century, the cottage was divided into five separate units housing Windsor estate workers. In 2019, it was converted into a single-family home for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, ahead of the birth of their son, Archie. The renovation, which returned the building to its original state as a single residence, cost £2.4 million, funded by the Sovereign Grant. The couple also contributed privately to the cost of fixtures and fittings.

In January 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they would be stepping down as senior working members of the royal family and moving to North America. They offered to repay the Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of the cottage, which was reportedly settled in full by the Duke in 2020.

In November 2020, Princess Eugenie, the younger daughter of Prince Andrew, and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, moved into Frogmore Cottage. In February 2022, the Duke of Sussex announced his intention to renew the lease on the cottage, allowing him to remain legally domiciled in the UK. In May 2022, it was reported that Princess Eugenie and her family had moved out, and the Duke of York was offered the cottage in March 2023.

Interior design

Frogmore Cottage, located in the grounds of Windsor Castle, has been described as a "small mansion" with 10 bedrooms. However, extensive renovations were carried out before it was occupied by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, which reduced the number of bedrooms to five, including a nursery. The couple reportedly worked with A-list interior designer Vicky James on the renovation.

The original building, built in 1801, underwent intensive restoration to make it a modern family home. The renovation included knocking down several internal walls, creating en-suite bedrooms, a huge kitchen-diner, a double staircase, and a yoga room. The couple also added a vegetable garden and installed soundproofing to block out noise from nearby Heathrow Airport.

The interiors of Frogmore Cottage are not well-documented, but it is known that the cottage has a cozy kitchen, living room, and nursery. Meghan and Harry are said to have chosen vegan and organic paint for the nursery and added alcove bookcases, new fireplaces, and vanity units throughout the house. They also installed childproof windows and an eco-friendly boiler.

The Queen reportedly gifted the couple a series of paintings from the Royal Art Collection to decorate their home. Meghan and Harry's style has been described as plush and luxurious, with a focus on comfort and privacy.

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