King Charles III has evicted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from their British home of Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor Estate - and we asked Mirror readers what they thought of the news.
The monarch is said to have made the decision just days after the release of Harry’s tell-all memoir Spare, as there was no improvement between Sussex-Royal Family relations.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed they were asked to vacate the 10-room royal home, which was gifted to them by the late Queen after their marriage in 2018.
A friend of Meghan claims the couple were ‘stunned’ by the decision, while at least two members of the family were ‘appalled’ by the news.
Despite repaying the cost of the £2.4million renovation, the pair only lived at the cottage for six months before quitting as working royals and moving to California in 2020.
Instead, Prince Andrew has been offered the keys to Frogmore, but sources claim he is “resisting” the King’s wishes for him to downsize from his current residence, the 30-room Royal Lodge.
We asked Mirror readers if they think Harry and Meghan should be handed another house following their eviction, and 89% of responses said ‘No’.
A total of 10,564 people voted in our poll, and around 9,344 selected the option ‘No - They aren’t working royals’.
This opinion largely dominated the comments section, as one reader wrote: “Frogmore Cottage is a grace and favour property owned by the monarchy. Due solely to their own words and behaviour, H&M are no longer in the grace and favour of the monarch, and eviction from Frogmore is the consequences for their actions.”
Another added: “NO DEFINITELY NOT. They don’t like England they obviously can’t stand the Royal family, so why have a house here standing empty. King Charles has done the right thing all he needs to do now is remove their titles.”
“The awful things they have said about our royal family will take the British people sometime to forgive them, if ever, as for offering them another property will be going against the people who agree with the King's actions and that is a huge majority of not only the UK but across the world,” echoed a third.
Meanwhile, 10 percent of voters selected the option ‘Yes - They spent £2.4m on renovations’, and took to the comments to voice their reasoning.
One person shared: “Yes he is King Charles Son too. Who has been working for the country since a young man. That home you're taking away from Prince Harry was a wedding gift from his grandmother Queen Elizabeth who loved Prince Harry a lot.
“Look at all the homes Prince William has been given. Prince Harry has worked hard his entire adult life. He chose to step back because of the treatment by the British of his wife Megan Markle who also is a mom of the 2 children of her and Prince Harry.”
Another wrote: “The Queen gave Prince Harry and Megan this home as a wedding gift. They did use their own money to upgrade. Why is Prince William given so many homes. He isn't King yet. Not fair to Prince Harry. They are brothers and were friends till you pit them against each other by giving one brother so much more. These young men have the same parents. Be fair.”
“They should be allowed to keep Frogmore it was gifted to them. Andrew should find his own accommodation, his mess. Apart from that Royal Lodge will only become more dilapidated and uninhabitable,” penned a third.
Only one percent of respondents selected the option “Other”.
In a separate poll, we asked readers if they think Charles is right to offer Frogmore to Andrew and 49 percent of responses voted for ‘Yes.
Around 11,957 people took part in the poll, and 5,907 chose the option ‘Yes - he should help his brother out’.
Taking to the comments section, one reader said: “Andrew should get one of the homes at Sandringham since it is not a Crown property. Harry and Megs could go there too. Crown properties should be reserved for working Royals if they want one.”
Another added: “He does not need a 30 room mansion but I agree that as he was forced out of being a working royal (not voluntarily like H and M) that there is no reason why Charles should not offer him a much smaller property on the same estate.”
Meanwhile, 5,506 people opted for the option ‘No - he shouldn’t help him’ and shared their opinions on the article.
One person wrote: “No Charles should not give Andrew Frogmore Cottage. Where are Prince Harry, Megan, Archibald and Lilibet supposed to stay when in GB. Also, will Charles pay back to Prince Harry the £2.4M spent on renovations he paid for.”
“Why on earth does Andrew need a 30 bedroom property? If he's been offered Frogmore Cottage he should be grateful, saves him from house hunting or from sofa surfing round at Fergie's. He ought to know by now how disliked he is by UK citizens so really ought to keep an extremely low profile,” shared a second.
Prince William and Kate could be handed the Royal Lodge on the Windsor Estate, as many believe it would be appropriate for such senior members of the family to occupy a more royal residence.
Royal editor Rebecca English wrote in the Daily Mail: “For now they are in Adelaide Cottage, a not immodest residence by anyone's standards but with just four bedrooms (not even one for the nanny) they are living cheek-by-jowl.
“As one familiar with their situation tells me: ‘The kids go to playdates at houses far bigger and grander than theirs.’
“A first-world problem admittedly, but one that would be solved if, say, a 30-room, seven-bedroom property such as Prince Andrew's Royal Lodge became free.”
In a third poll, we asked readers if they think William and Kate should be handed the Royal Lodge, and 79 percent voted for ‘Yes - They are more senior members of the family’, while only 15 percent selected ‘No - They don’t need such a big house’.
In the comments section, one reader wrote: “The Prince and princess of wales are senior working members of the royal family. They have young children and a large family on either side. The royal lodge would be perfect.
"The children will have many birthday parties. Cathrine has a large family that could visit and stay for special events. All in a secure safe environment. They also deserve it more than the current occupier.”
Another penned: “I think William and Kate and the children should live wherever they want to. Not where Charles thinks they should but that is a wonderful place for them to raise their family. Sounds to me like the Royal Lodge is in disrepair and is a dump.”
