(L-R) Great Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave Windsor Castle in a carriage after their wedding ceremony at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, England. Image: AP/Frank Augstein
The home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was renovated with £2.4 million ($3.06 million) of taxpayers’ money, royal accounts revealed on Tuesday, June 25.
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan’s residence called Frogmore Cottage, located near Windsor Castle, underwent major work to turn five properties into a single home for the couple and their baby son Archie. Fixtures, fittings and furnishings at the Victorian-era structure were paid for by the royal couple.
The figures were part of the release of the royal family’s accounts, which showed that the British taxpayers spent £67 million ($85.2 million) on the monarchy from 2018 to 2019, a 41% increase in the previous financial year.
“The property had not been the subject of work for some years and had already been earmarked for renovation in line with our responsibility to maintain the condition of the occupied royal palaces estate,” said Michael Stevens, the keeper of the Privy Purse. “The Sovereign Grant covered the work undertaken to turn the building into the official residence and home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their new family.”
The number rose primarily because of higher levels of spending devoted to critical renovations for Buckingham Palace in London. The iconic structure is in the second year of a 10-year project after a Treasury report concluded the building’s infrastructure was in danger of a catastrophic failure.
The total Sovereign Grant, which funds Queen Elizabeth II and her household’s official expenses, was £82.2 million, or £1.24 per person in the United Kingdom. That figure includes £15.2 million ($19.3 million) set aside for future phases of the palace renovation.
The palace says the royal family took on 3,200 official engagements from 2018 to 2019 and welcomed 160,000 guests to royal palaces and events. HM/JB
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