Prince Harry and Meghan reportedly open a cottage in the UK to Princess Eugenie

• In June, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle bought their first home together in Santa Barbara.
• Before achieving financial independence, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly returned $ 3 million in taxpayer money that was used to refurbish their UK residence, Frogmore Cottage.
• According to a source close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Princess Eugenie of York and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, who are expecting a baby in early 2021, are planning to move to Frogmore Cottage.
• However, Frogmore Cottage remains Harry and Markle’s UK residence, the source told Insider.
• The report raises questions about how likely Harry and Markle are planning a return to the UK.
• Visit the Insider home page for more stories.

Since stepping down from their official duties as working senior members of the royal family, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have marked their new chapter in life by purchasing their first home together in Santa Barbara, where they resided with their son, Archie. , from June.

As part of their journey to financial independence, Harry and Markle would repay the $ 3 million in taxpayer money that had been used to renovate their Windsor, England home, Frogmore Cottage, prior to their announcement to resign from real duties.

Frogmore Cottage was gifted to Harry and Markle in 2019 as a gift from the Queen.

While Harry and Markle live in California, Frogmore Cottage is still in their possession, but the house is meant to be occupied by Prince Harry’s first cousin, Princess Eugenie, and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, a source close to the Duke. and the Duchess of Sussex confirmed to Insider on Saturday.

GOR / Getty Images

“Frogmore Cottage continues to be the residence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the UK and they are delighted to be able to open their home to Princess Eugenie and Jack as they start their family,” source close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has told Insider.

Princess Eugenie and Brooksbank announced in September that they are expecting their first child together “in early 2021”. Princess Eugenie and her sister, Princess Beatrice, are the two daughters of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York.

Karwai Tang / WireImage; Pool / Max Mumby / Getty Images

Reports of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank moving into Harry and Markle’s cottage spark speculation as to whether or not the Duke and Duchess will return to the UK

A report by the British publication The Sun released on Friday claimed that Harry and Markle’s personal belongings were removed from Frogmore Cottage as Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank moved in. The publication quoted a source as saying: “Emptying their house and handing over the keys is a strong enough sign that Harry and Meghan have no plans to return.”

However, the source close to Harry and Markle confirmed to Insider that contrary to rumors that the couple have completely abandoned the house, Frogmore Cottage remains in the possession of Harry and Markle.

Omid Scobie, the royal editor of Harper’s Bazaar, added via Twitter that Harry and Markle “have not moved and will still be staying at home while visiting the UK”.

Rebecca English, royal editor of the Daily Mail, tweeted that Buckingham Palace representatives said the house remains Harry and Markle’s “private residence”.

—Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) November 20, 2020

Harry and Markle last visited the UK in March, when they attended their last engagements as real workers.

Apart from a file video call In August, when Prince Harry told Rugby Football League members he wanted to return to their homeland to watch the upcoming World Cup in autumn 2021, the couple did not speak publicly about explicit plans to return to the UK.

Buckingham Palace representatives did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.