The Duchess of Sussex reportedly had grander ideas than to live in Prince Harry’s “starter home” at Nottingham Cottage, which is where Meghan Markle had relocated prior to her marriage to Harry.
A royal commentator has claimed Meghan Markle’s fixation to live in Windsor Castle came from her rivalry of Princess Kate who lived with Prince William and their children in Kensington Palace.
Kinsey Schofield previously told GB News: “She wanted to share the same space with the Queen [Elizabeth II], and she was denied that space for multiple reasons.”
This comes as Meghan confessed in the Netflix docuseries ‘Harry & Meghan’ she thought the couple would live “somewhere more regal” after getting engaged.
Speaking of his living arrangements, Prince Harry said: “As far as people were concerned, we were living in a palace. And we were, in a cottage.”
Meghan added: “Kensington Palace sounds very regal, of course it does. It says ‘palace’ in the name! But Nottingham Cottage was so small.”
The Mirror reports Meghan was told living in Windsor Castle would not be private, and was warned the couple’s privacy would be intruded upon as there are numerous public tours of the castle during the year.
William and Kate’s central London home, Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace used to belong to Princess Margaret. The living quarters is spread over four floors and features over 20 rooms, including three kitchens and nine rooms for members of staff. It was refurbished at a cost of £4.5m to the taxpayer with a new roof and electrics, and the removal of asbestos.
Royal expert and author Christopher Warwick said: “All of these royal residences at Kensington Palace are called apartments, which of course makes people immediately think they are flats like the American term for an apartment. They are not.”
He explained: “If you kind of think of them as being these wonderful red brick terrace houses. Because they are all joined but separate houses.”
Prince Harry revealed in his bombshell memoir how he felt embarrassed to take Meghan Markle to his cottage at the start of their relationship because it was not a palace.
In his memoir, Spare, the Duke of Sussex describes Nottingham Cottage, dubbed Nott Cott, on the grounds of Kensington Palace as a bit embarrassing.
Upon reflecting on showing Meghan Nottingham Cottage, Duke wrote: “To my relief she made no sign of dismay, gave no indication of disillusionment.
“Until she got inside. Then she said something about a frat house. I glanced around. She wasn’t far off.”
The Duke criticises Nottingham Cottage’s size in his memoir, describing it as being built for humans of a bygone era with ceilings as low as a doll’s house.
Harry and Meghan lived at Nottingham Cottage before their move to Frogmore Cottage in April 2019 ahead of the birth of their first child, Archie.
