Princess Anne played a pivotal role in the decision to evict Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from Frogmore Cottage, according to claims in a new book by royal biographer Omid Scobie. Titled "Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival," the book sheds light on the behind-the-scenes maneuvering that led to the Sussexes' removal from their U.K. residence.
The Princess Royal, as Scobie describes in excerpts obtained by The Telegraph, was a key advocate for a firm approach against Harry and Meghan, influencing King Charles III to revoke their access to Frogmore Cottage. This decision came despite the property being a wedding gift from the late Queen Elizabeth II. The cottage had become the couple's only perceived safe haven in the U.K., especially for their two young children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Scobie's book reveals that the Sussexes received a letter from Sir Michael John Stevens, the Keeper of the Privy Purse, instructing them to relinquish the keys to the cottage. This development followed shortly after the publication of Prince Harry's memoir "Spare" in January and preceded King Charles III's coronation in May. The couple was given a timeframe until after the coronation to relocate their belongings to California.
At the annual Sovereign Grant account briefing on royal finances in June, Sir Stevens confirmed the couple's departure from Frogmore Cottage. He highlighted that the Sussexes had covered the renovation costs of the 19th-century Grade II-listed home, leaving the Crown with an enhanced asset.
The decision to evict the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly left them "stunned" and other royal family members "appalled." The couple had invested £2.4 million in renovating Frogmore Cottage, yet their time there was limited due to their royal duties and subsequent departure from the U.K.
Scobie criticizes the King's actions in "Endgame," interpreting them as a personal attack rather than a decisive move of a resolute monarch. He portrays it as a reaction from a "wounded father" within an institution often insensitive to personal emotions.
The book also touches upon reports of King Charles III's intention to offer Frogmore Cottage to Prince Andrew. However, the plan was supposedly thwarted by Andrew's refusal to leave his Windsor mansion, Royal Lodge.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, having left the U.K. for a more peaceful life in Montecito, California, in 2020, had paid advance rent for Frogmore Cottage to maintain it as a safe residence during their visits to Britain. The property, located within Windsor Castle's grounds, was covered by the MET's Royalty and Specialist Protection Unit, making it a secure location for the family. Notable moments at Frogmore include Princess Lilibet's first birthday celebration and the couple's stay during Queen Elizabeth II's funeral events.
"Endgame" thus presents a nuanced view of the complex dynamics within the royal family, focusing on the intricate interplay of relationships and decisions that led to the Sussexes' eviction from Frogmore Cottage.
