The queen reportedly turned down Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's request to live in Windsor Castle

Updated

It's safe to say that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are fully settled into Frogmore Cottage, their new home as of last April. The cottage (read: mansion), which was previously used to house royal staff in separate apartments, underwent $3 million in renovations to create a more private and secure home for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and baby Archie Harrison. However, new reports reveal that the couple originally had their sights set on living in Windsor Castle.

Windsor Castle is where Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip spend most of their weekends, and earlier this week, the Sunday Times reported that Harry and Meghan had first asked the queen if they could live there, too.

"The couple are understood to have set their hearts at first on Windsor Castle, and are believed to have asked the Queen if living quarters could be made available after their marriage," the article reads.

However, it appears that the queen rejected the idea and instead, gifted them Frogmore Cottage (which is arguably, a much better deal).

Hugo Vickers, the author of several biographies on the royal family, provided his own explanation as to why the queen might have done this.

"There are empty bedrooms and suites in the private apartments [within Windsor Castle] which the Sussexes may have had their eye on, or perhaps some former living quarters in the castle grounds converted into other things. But I can see how it might not be entirely appropriate to have a young family living there," he said.

Of course, Frogmore Cottage, which is on the grounds of Windsor Castle, was then turned into the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's five-bedroom dream home, so it seems like there are no hard feelings and in the end, everyone came out a winner.

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Frogmore Cottage was built in the 18th century for Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III, who is said to have use the home as a retreat for her and her daughters. However, the home became something extra special to Harry and Meghan after Prince Charles hosted their wedding reception there back in May 2018.

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