Why Prince Harry Has Renewed His Lease in the U.K. Even Though He Reportedly Has No Plans to Return
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, live full-time more than 5,000 miles away from the U.K. and rarely visit the other side of the pond. In fact, Meghan hasn’t been back there at all since their official duties concluded in 2020 which is why some fans were a bit surprised when the Duke of Sussex renewed the lease for their Frogmore Cottage home in England.
Well, there is actually a specific reason Harry did that and it isn’t because he plans on vacationing in Windsor. Here’s why the prince chose to re-up even though he reportedly has no plans of returning.
The renovations Harry and Meghan had done inside Frogmore
Before announcing they wanted out as senior royals, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had their five-bedroom Frogmore Cottage home renovated.
A new heating and electrical system were put in the home and soundproofing was installed. Also, a few additions to the property included two orangeries and a vegetable garden.
The renovations took months and cost taxpayers around $3 million, which Meghan and Harry have since paid back.
Why Prince Harry renewed the lease for his U.K. home
Harry has only stayed at the Frogmore house twice since moving and the visits weren’t lengthy. So why did he renew the lease?
According to Cosmopolitan, “by keeping the lease at Frogmore Cottage, Harry is allowed to stay on as one of the queen’s Counsellors of State. As for what this actually means, by law, should the queen be temporarily unable to carry out her duties then her Counsellors of State can step in. Because Queen Elizabeth’s spouse, Prince Philip, is no longer alive the next people in the line of succession (not counting Prince William’s children because they’re under 21) are Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince Harry.
However, Counsellors of State must have a permanent residence in the U.K. so that explains why Harry renewed Frogmore’s lease.
Harry won’t to return to England if he can’t have what he wants
Since announcing they were stepping down as senior royals and moving to America, Prince Harry has traveled back to England twice. Once for Prince Philip’s funeral and once for the unveiling of Princess Diana’s statue at Kensington Palace. Meghan meanwhile has not been on U.K. soil since attending their final royal engagement in March 2020.
Harry has said that in order for his family to travel to England he wants private security which he has offered to pay for. However, the Daily Mail reported that “When Harry left The Firm the terms [of his exit] were clear. Like other members of the public, he and his wife are not able to hire armed cops at will — no matter how much they offer to pay.” Therefore, the security the Sussexes have in the U.S. could not be replicated in the U.K. because people aren’t allowed to walk the streets with guns.
Royal expert Camilla Tominey added that it was previously believed that Harry did want to go back to his homeland for visits but “maybe what the Sussexes are really trying to tell us is that Meghan categorically doesn’t. Only time will tell.”
