Frogmore Cottage is a house located on the grounds of Frogmore House, in Windsor Park, in the county of Berkshire, England and is owned by the British Crown.
Charles II began building the original Frogmore House in 1680, on land purchased by Henry VIII in the 16th century. The name derives from the large number of frogs that have always lived in this area. For many years it was used as accommodation for palace employees and their families.
In 1801, Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III, took over Frogmore House and Frogmore Cottage was built in the former servants’ house and has since been occupied by several generations of the British royal family.
It was the birthplace of Queen Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Kent, and was home to Queen Victoria’s daughter Alice and her husband Prince Louis of Hesse. In the late 19th century, the country house was remodeled and extended by Edward VII and Queen Alexandra to accommodate their children Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale, and Prince George, Duke of York, as well as the Princess Augusta, the daughter of King George III and her husband, the Duke of Sussex. In 1856 the house was renovated and new wings were added to accommodate the children of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
The Frogmore Cottage Controversy
In the 20th century, the house was used primarily as offices and accommodation for Buckingham Palace staff, but Frogmore Cottage was Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding gift to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, in May 2018. The couple undertook a major $2.8 million renovation paid by UK taxpayers and moved in April 2019. In 2021 due to the tremendous controversy that occurred in Great Britain, the dukes fully reimbursed the cost of the remodeling.
At the time of the remodel the house consisted of five separate units and was in a rather dilapidated state: ceiling joists, floor joists, heating, gas, electrical systems were replaced, and plumbing was renewed, increased an orchard, a fruit garden and a yoga studio.
The original construction had 10 rooms and a total of 472 m2. However, as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down from their royal duties, the property was seized by the British Crown a few months ago as part of a financial agreement with the Royal Family.
Frogmore Cottage will be completely vacated by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the summer and it is believed that King Charles III will hand it over to his brother Andrew, who does not seem to be very pleased as he currently lives in a 30-bedroom mansion located on the grounds of Windsor Castle. The Sussexes currently reside in Montecito, California.
The controversy over Frogmore Cottage has been part of a larger debate about the role of the British monarchy in the 21st century and the way it is financed. While some defend its role as an important institution in British history and culture, others argue that the cost of supporting the Royal Family and their residences is too high for UK taxpayers.
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