Now that baby makes three, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are settling into their newly renovated home.
The couple started making interior changes on Frogmore Cottage (a five-bedroom abode on Windsor Castle’s grounds) before Archie’s birth, and now that he’s here, it looks like the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have completed the exterior too. So what kinds of changes did the new parents make to their family’s home?
According to Buckingham Palace, the renovations came in at a $3 million price tag—thanks to British taxpayers via the Queen’s Annual Sovereign Grant (which helps to maintain and conserve royal palaces). A source close to the royal family told PEOPLE, “The heating systems were outdated and inefficient and were not to the environmental standards that we would expect today.” The source also added that the older electrical system, gas lines and water mains also required replacement.
Even though taxpayers footed the majority of the permanent reno bill (after all, it is a historic building), Prince Harry and Markle paid for fixtures, fittings and furnishings themselves. Reports have also surfaced noting that the couple also paid for some of the pricier projects, such as a kitchen upgrade and flooring.
Even though the couple hasn’t released specifics, rumors of a mother-and-baby yoga room with a floating floor are reportedly false.
Of the renovations and restorations, Sir Michael Stevens, Keeper of the Privy Purse, told reporters, “The property had not been the subject of work for some years and had already been earmarked for renovation in line with our responsibility to maintain the condition of the occupied Royal Palaces Estate.” Stevens went on to add, “The Sovereign Grant covered the work undertaken to turn the building into the official residence and home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their new family. The building was returned to a single residence and outdated infrastructure was replaced to guarantee the long-term future of the property.”
—Erica Loop
Featured photo: Princess Eugenie via Instagram
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