Late Queen Elizabeth reportedly denied her grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan a home at Windsor Castle it has been reported, deeming their request "inappropriate".
The castle has been owned by the Royal Family for nearly 1,000 years and has been home to some senior royals, including the Queen and Prince Phillip. The estate is made up of more than just the castle itself and contains several properties, which the Queen had previously gifted to family members.
However, despite the late her majesty gifting her grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle one of these - Frogmore Cottage - after their wedding, it has been reported that they actually wanted to live inside the castle itself.
Read more: The Welsh castle named one of the 'most beautiful' in Europe
According to The Times, the head of state deemed their request '"inappropriate" and "firmly" rejected their suggestion. The newspaper reports that the pair asked if "living quarters could be made available after their marriage". At the time both the Queen and Phillip were living at the castle and suggested that the newlyweds lived in nearby Frogmore Cottage.
However, before they were granted Frogmore, a number of other homes in Windsor were reportedly put forward as possible residences for the couple with Frogmore cottage described as a "big deal".
In her book The New Royals, royal expert Katie's Nicholl said that the late Lady Elizabeth Anson, who died in 2020, said the Queen described the Windsor home as a "big deal" and shared her hopes that Harry and Meghan would "respect" her generosity.
Lady Elizabeth 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 back yard, 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.'"
However, before they were granted Frogmore, a number of other homes in Windsor were reportedly put forward as possible residences for the couple.
One of which was Adelaide Cottage, which is now the home of The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children. Prince William and Kate moved from London to the four-bed home in Windsor at the end of the summer with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Nestled in the heart of the Crown Estate's private 655-acre royal park, Adelaide Cottage was built in 1831 as a retreat for William IV’s wife Queen Adelaide. It was also known to be a favourite home of Queen Victoria as she frequently enjoyed taking her breakfast there.
READ NEXT:
- Matt Hancock joins I'm a Celebrity and is immediately suspended by Tory party
- The Crown to dramatise Princess Diana's Panorama interview in four-minute scene
- Prince Andrew 'has become a virtual recluse' since Emily Maitlis interview
-
- Sarah Ferguson's £30 million mansion where she still lives with Prince Andrew and the Queen's corgis
- Most people want the Prince of Wales title to continue
