Staff at £2.4m renovated Frogmore Cottage relocated
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s staff at Frogmore Cottage have been “let go”, in the surest sign yet the couple will settle in Canada, sources have revealed.
At least two permanent employees — a house manager and a cleaner — are being moved to other duties within the Queen’s household.
Other members of staff who are used on an ad hoc basis, such as chefs, maids and footmen, have been told their services are no longer required at the couple’s Windsor residence.
Sources said Harry and Meghan operated Frogmore, on the Queen’s Windsor estate, with a “skeleton staff” and no one was being made redundant. But it is understood the employees are having to switch jobs as a “knock-on effect” of the couple’s decision to move to North America for at least part of the year.
The revelation will fuel speculation among palace officials that the Duchess of Sussex, in particular, will never return to Britain to live in a
“meaningful” way.
Eight days ago the couple shocked the royals by publicly announcing that they planned to step down as senior working members of the family.
The Queen, Harry’s 93-year-old grandmother, was said to be particularly hurt by their decision. On Monday, the monarch, Prince Charles, Prince William and Harry held an unprecedented summit at Sandringham to discuss where they went from here.
Afterwards the Queen issued a rare personal statement that made clear her regret the Sussexes had decided to step down.
But she said she respected their wish to live a “more independent” life and had given her permission for them to spend time in Canada, as well as the UK, while these “complex” matters were being resolved.
The biggest sticking points are understood to be the couple’s desire to earn their own living and how far they should be allowed to “commercialise” their roles, as well as what royal duties they will still be expected to carry out.
The British and Canadian governments are also involved in talks about residency and security issues. A plan is reportedly imminent. But staff are already being told to expect changes, and the Sussexes’ two live-in employees at Frogmore, who stay at the property all year round, have been told they are no longer needed.
“The workers are already being offered other roles at Buckingham Palace,” a source said.
“This has all come as a bit of shock. They took great pride in working for them and being at Frogmore.”
When they made their announcement last week, Harry and Meghan made clear they wished to keep the five-bedroom home in Windsor, which was a gift from the Queen. It was previously five separate staff cottages but was knocked into one larger residence, controversially using £2.4 million ($NZ4.7m)of taxpayers’ money.
On their new website, Harry and Meghan state that the Grade II-listed building in Windsor Home Park was owned by the Queen and was refurbished from the Sovereign Grant, given to her by the Government, as part of her responsibility to “maintain the upkeep of buildings with historical significance”.
The site says expenses relating to fixtures and fitting were met by the couple privately.
The Duke and Duchess said they wished to continue to use it as their official residence “as they continue to support the monarchy and so that their family will always have a place to call home in the United Kingdom”.
It is not clear whether the Queen will accede to that request, although sources have indicated she is privately unhappy at the amount of money spent on it when the couple will be there for significantly less time.
A spokesman for the couple declined to comment.