The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge renovated their “apartment” in Kensington Palace years before we ever got a glimpse inside. It was 2016 when we finally got a look at what was probably their sitting room or living room, and their design aesthetic was… interesting. But I would really, really love to see what Will and Kate did with Anmer Hall, just as I would love to see what the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did to Frogmore Cottage’s interior. I feel like Frogmore was probably a total gut job down to the studs and they probably largely reconfigured the layout and tons of other stuff. My question is… when will we even get a glimpse inside Frogmore? I hope it’s when Baby Sussex comes and they maybe release some Instagrams inside their home. In any case, it turns out that Meghan and Harry have already entertained several royal and royal-adjacent guests at Frogmore:
Prince Harry and Meghan had a surprise first visitor to their new home — the Queen. They had just moved into Frogmore Cottage when Her Maj arrived to welcome them to her home. The house was a gift from the monarch and sits in Home Park, the private estate beside Windsor Castle.
A royal source said: “Her Majesty wanted to formally welcome the Sussexes to their new home so she was their first visitor. After all, they’ve practically moved into her back garden. She visited with other family members and Harry and Meghan were delighted to show them round. The Queen was at Windsor Castle at Easter and wanted to see Meghan before she has the baby.”
Meghan, 37, and Harry, 34, have also been visited by Wills and Kate, Zara and Mike Tindall, and Peter and Autumn Phillips. Meghan, now a couple of days overdue with her baby, is resting at home. Frogmore Cottage was renovated to the tune of £3million with taxpayers’ cash, although the Sussexes paid for the fixtures and fittings themselves.
The Queen visited Anmer Hall after the renovation too, and according to sources, the Queen made some pointed comments about the alleged open-concept first floor, with the kitchen at the center of the house. I wonder if the Queen had similarly pointed comments about Meghan and Harry’s design style. Honestly though, Frogmore really does seem more cottage-y (in the American sense) and I hope Harry and Meghan’s renovation edged it more towards “family home” rather than “a country estate where they can entertain royal guests.”
…Also, now all I can think about is what I would offer the Queen to drink if she unexpectedly stopped by my house. Tea, your Maj? Diet Pepsi? Filtered water? In my head, the Queen arrived with a bottle of gin as a “housewarming present” and told them “break it open now, and pour liberally.”
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
Is it just me or does it seem like Queen Elizabeth likes Harry more compared to William or even Charles? Because she always seem warmer to Harry compared to other members of her family. I noticed that her shoulders tense up around Andrew and even at times Charles. She always looks happy and relaxed around Harry.
I imagine we’ll see plenty of pics of Sussex tyke ruling Frogmore Cottage with an iron fist.
Harry is her fave. It’s a not so well-kept secret.
IIRC, I read somewhere that Peter Phillips was her favorite grandchild. This may be due to fact that he was were first grandchild.
The Queen loves Harry, I think he reminds her of when she was in love with young Philip. I also think that Harry knows how to make the Queen laugh.
Harry is allegedly her favourite grandson, some speculate because of how much he looks like Phillip. I believe Charles and William were the Queen Mothers (her mother) favourite.
Really? I think William looks way more like Philip than Harry does. Harry looks more like Charles Spencer to me. I think Harry has inherited more of Philip’s personality minus the pettiness and stubbornness.
Hmm of her grandsons I don’t even think he looks that much like Phillip. Even Peter Phillips looks more like Phillip.
Lucia, look at old pictures of Prince Philip. Harry Sussex is a spitting image of his grandfather. Harry has the Spencer coloring;. Red hair runs through the Spencer family. I have been told he resembles his Aunt Sarah’s male children but has a closer resemblance to Prince Phillip.
Red hair and I’d argue the Spencer nose, especially if you see a picture of his Grandpa John Spencer. But I guess I can see Philip in the rest of his face.
Edit: I really see the resemblance looking a photos of them both with beards but I still think Harry has a Spencer nose.
Poor Charles never had the warm relationship with his mother since she became Quuen when he was really young.
I’m sure the Queen loves William and Harry equally.
Elizabeth & Philip toured the colonies for months at a time, leaving the children home with nannies. Iirc, one “tour” was almost 6 months.
Loving them equally is one thing. Being more compatible and wanting to hang out with one more than the other is human.
This is funny, cause I think most people put their own interpretation on to it. Cause it has been widely reported for many years and by many royals and all the siblings that Andrew is the Queen’s favorite by far. Kind of explains why he gets away with so much, if you think about it. Prince Phillip’s favorite has been widely reported to be Anne. Now as far as the grandkids, there hasn’t been a lot of reporting on this. I believe if she had a favorite and it has to do with her sport it probably is Zara Phillips cause of the fact she’s an equestrian olympic medalist, and the Queen is very fond of horses. Charles, William and probably George soon enough are in a total different category cause they are being groomed to be monarchs, so I think they don’t get the benefit of a lot things the others do. Charles has talked about this a lot.
Yes she prefers Harry to William but her favourite grandson is Peter Phillips.
3 million of the taxpayers’ money. Wow. Just wow. I like Meghan and Harry, but there’s no way I can defend keeping the royals. It’s pretty bizarre, especially now with Brexit and people struggling to make ends meet. I won’t even make that amount of money in the course of my entire life, and I work long day shifts 5 days a week.
The majority of that went to security for the property. Harry and Meghan paid for the bulk of the interior (fixtures and fittings). And considering how much vitriol is thrown at Meghan I dont see a problem with making sure she and the baby are safe.
The house actually belongs to the people, it needed an up grade and Megs and Harry were a good excuse to do it.
Strictly speaking the house was not a gift from the Queen, because she doesn’t own it, it’s part of the Windsor Castle estate , government property/ crown estate, she can only gift them with the use of it, via a long lease.
As a crown property connected to a Royal Residence , the lease would stipulate who can live there , if it was a long lease (40-50years) it would stipulate if their children could live there after Harry or Meghan passed on or if the lease terminated with Harry’s death. Prince Andrew has the same arrangement at The Lodge (he paid for his own long lease). Beatrice and Eugenie can live in the house after he dies for the duration of the lease.
I wish someone in the Royal family would say, “Thank you for my house.” Like if the UK is paying for those renos, the least they can do is make a Cribs-style documentary we can all watch and then a thank you note. Or produce all the renovations on a television reality show shot like an HG-TV home remodel show.
Like Jackie did: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Tour_of_the_White_House_with_Mrs._John_F._Kennedy
Oh please! These properties are owned by the nation, and the royal family have been wonderful custodians of these historic residences for centuries. I am sure that the Queen was very happy to go and see how Frogmore Cottage was once again being turned into a family home, and she would have plenty of interesting anecdotes about it to share.
Harry and Meghan by agreeing to live there are doing the nation a favour because the residence is getting a much needed refurbishment, otherwise it could have deteriorated further and rotted away.
Harry and Megan are doing us a favour for living in mini mansion? Do you really think that?
Thank you for refurbishing this home you don’t own with other people’s money? Like we can all pick out a wallpaper, babe.
“NO PEPSI! COKE!” (Sorry… I flashed on John Belushi when you offered TQ a Pepsi lol)
I wonder if TQ was there when K&W went to visit. I can just imagine her standing in front of them, holding onto her purse, sat the “boys” down on the sofa, and told them to cut the crap/work it out! lol.
Isn’t it interesting, since Easter Sunday, stories have started to come out about “the rift has been healed”…?
I thought it was interesting that the press was saying that the rift had been healed before Easter, why then did Harry avoid William?
Love the Queen and she loves her grandchildren.
Of course she visited the house she gave them, lol. She is probably pleased to have them so close. I do think the Queen seems to like Harry a great deal (not just love, but like) – I imagine she is really proud of the work he has done with Sentebale and Invictus. Remember that video she made with him for the IG in Orlando? That was super cute.
I think she has a soft spot for Harry.
She also probably wanted to say hi to Doria, and welcome her to Windsor.
Oh I love that idea, Princess K!
This is a sweet story. I saw a post somewhere on the inter webs that made it sound like she just visited like, this week and everyone was like THE BABY IS HERE!
This story makes more sense. I would be super stressed if my grandmother-in-law was THE QUEEN and came over to my new house for a visit. But if anyone could handle it with grace, I think it would be Meghan and Harry. I picture Meghan serving cucumber- and basil-infused ice waters, scones and maybe Harry made some good British tea. 🙂
So sweet. I also hope for a peek at some point. Although with Meghan’s previous social media life, I’ve seen pics of her style and I enjoyed the aesthetic. Clean, lots of fresh flowers and books; I’m not the arbiter of what’s considered in, though, that’s for sure. I loved Chrissy Tiegan’s home in the Vogue questions and not Kim K’s that I just saw glimpses of.
p.s. I’d offer tea, but be totally prepared to provide whatever spirit TQ wanted if she scoffed at tea.
I bet the home is so beautiful, homey and relaxing. I have an open concept home. Let me tell you, you can’t hid anything. LOL If my kitchen is messy from baking or cooking, someone does a random or unannounced stop by, it’s for all the world to see. I love open concept but I also love traditional, separate spaces. I LOVE old homes with all the built ins. A modern-Craftsman style updated old house is a dream of mine. LOL
There something to be said for walls and doors. Growing up my aunt had a formal dining room with a door that led to the kitchen and there are many times I wish I had a way to hide the kitchen while entertaining instead of everything being in one giant room.
Agree with you both @Hey There and @Ali. Lifehacker had an article the other day about how to put in walls now that you hate your open plan; I’m paraphrasing a bit, but it did imply regrets about choosing an open plan.
We have an open concept because it was what was available in the city we were looking in when we were looking and I despise it. Noise noise noise noise. Mess mess mess is always visible and there must be a great unity of decorative style. It’s my nightmare.
Wonder if the Queen mentioned how the Firm hasn’t stood up for Meghan with the RR.
I’m trying to figure out why many considered it so rude of William and Kate to drop by, but seem A-OK with the queen doing the same thing. Also, I’m totally picturing them doing yoga together!
it’s the QUEEN. if anyone would be above that rule, it’s her – also she gave them the house. of course she would be treated differently than william & kate, or even charles for that matter.