Sussexes’ cheerleader Omid Scobie says Frogmore Cottage was Harry and Meghan’s ‘one remaining space in UK’ that meets their family’s security needs and their ‘cruel’ eviction could mean they choose to stay in the US
- The royal author argued Frogmore Cottage is The Sussexes’ only safe refuge
- Sussexes were out for dinner in LA as claims about Frogmore eviction emerged
- A source close to the pair said their eviction by Charles was ‘cruel and final’
Omid Scobie has claimed King Charles’ decision to evict Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from their grace and favour Royal residence in Windsor leaves them without a home in the UK where they will be safe.
Scobie, a royal author who penned the Sussexes’ biography, railed against the eviction of his friends from Frogmore Cottage – a five-bedroom mansion set a stone’s throw away from the principal residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
He argued that, although Harry and Meghan travel with a private security team, Frogmore Cottage’s location within the security perimeter of the Windsor Estate meant it was the only place in the UK they could feel truly safe, given they were deprived of dedicated Royal protection.
It emerged yesterday that King Charles began evicting Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage just 24 hours after his son released Spare – a move sources close to the Duke and Duchess described as ‘cruel’.
An insider told Scobie today: ‘It all feels very final and like a cruel punishment. It’s like [the family] want to cut them out of the picture for good. Harry and Meghan have until early summer to vacate.’
The Sussexes do not have access to any other Royal residences and do not own another home in the UK, the eviction effectively sealing their commitment to move to the US full time.
King Charles apparently took steps to evict the Sussexes from their UK home after Spare’s release
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are seen in the kitchen at Frogmore Cottage
Frogmore Cottage in the grounds of Frogmore House, Frogmore Estate, Windsor, UK, home of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Scobie, a royal author who penned the Sussexes’ biography, railed against the eviction of his friends from Frogmore Cottage
Omid Scobie
His Majesty initially gave his son and daughter-in-law ‘weeks’ to pack up their grace-and-favour British home in the grounds of Windsor Castle after Harry released his memoirs.
But ‘now they have at least until after the Coronation’ in May, a friend of the couple has claimed. A source told Page Six that Britain’s monarch started the eviction process on January 11 – the day after Spare had its global release.
The Sussexes have reportedly started planning how to move their belongings to California, including an ornate ottoman bench and a chaise longue from the home they lived in until Megxit and stayed at following the Queen’s death last September.
Incredibly Charles has reportedly offered the keys to Frogmore to Harry’s disgraced uncle Prince Andrew – who is apparently ‘resisting’ because he wants to stay in his larger Windsor Royal Lodge where he pays a reported £250-a-week for a state-subsidised 30-room mansion complete with 98 acres of land and a swimming pool.
Mr Scobie has said that at least two members of the Royal Family are ‘appalled’. He does not name them but the Sussexes are known to be close to Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
Royal sources have declared: ‘This spells the end of Harry and Meghan’s time in the UK’. In 2020 there were reports that most of their belongings were removed when they emigrated.
Meghan and Harry in the garden at Frogmore in scenes from the Netflix documentary last year
Frogmore Cottage was gifted to the Sussexes by the late Queen as a wedding present
Despite the news from Britain, Harry and Meghan were happy last night as they pitched up at Hollywood hotspot San Vicente Bungalows, the top private club and eaterie in Los Angeles for A-list actors, music stars and studio executives.
Hours later The Late Show with Stephen Colbert released a new clip with Harry – filmed in New York a month ago – where he answered quick-fire questions about his life.
Meghan Markle was ‘hugely disappointed’ by life in the royal family
In a question about the afterlife, Harry said he believes that humans are reincarnated as animals when they die and he wants to be an elephant. He also nodded to his departure from the Royal Family when asked to describe the rest of his life in five words, replying: ‘Freedom, happiness, clarity, space, love’.
He also laughed when Colbert admitted that after reading Spare he hates the Royal Family, saying: ‘I’m reading this book and thinking: ‘Get them Harry!’.’
Colbert said his wife loves the royals after spending time in the UK, to which Harry replied: ‘Wonderful’.
The Duke of Sussex took part in a quickfire question-and-answer session called the Colbert Questionert with the chat show host, in a segment that wasn’t originally aired with the rest of his discussion about ‘Spare’.
Harry revealed in the eight-and-a-half-minute clip that he thinks humans are reincarnated as animals when they die, and that if he got to choose what to become, he would pick an elephant.
He also nodded to his departure from the Royal Family when asked to describe the rest of his life in five words, to which he replied: ‘Freedom, happiness, clarity, space, love’.
Other answers included him declaring ‘cockpit’ when asked if he prefers a window or aisle seat, Gladiator was revealed as his favourite action movie, while he also told the story of asking England’s World Cup-winning rugby team for autographs while they were ‘naked, with their willies hanging out’.
Last night Page Six in the US showed the Sussexes arriving at San Vicente Bungalows.
Harry got out of the car first wearing fairly casual clothes, wearing a grey cardigan, blue T-shirt and blue shoes.
Harry and Meghan at Frogmore. The couple were out in LA last night
Prince Andrew spotted riding his horse in Windsor last week. He has reportedly been offered Frogmore Cottage
His actress wife was far more dressed up, wearing tight black leather trousers, black high heels, a dark cardigan and carrying a black clutch bag.
Harry’s answers to the quickfire questions
Best sandwich? Cheese and ham toastie with Dijon mustard
What’s one thing you own that you should really throw out? Ripped boxer shorts
Scariest animal? Snakes
Apples or oranges? Oranges
Have you ever asked for an autograph? Yes, the England rugby team in 2003
What happens when we die? I think we become animals
Favourite action movie? Gladiator
Window or aisle? Cockpit
Favourite smell? His wife
Least favourite smell? He gestures towards Colbert
Most used app? BetterUp
Cats or dogs? Dogs
You only get one song to listen to for the rest of your life, what is it? Your Love Gets Sweeter Every Day by Finley Quaye
What number am I thinking of? One
Describe the rest of your life in five words? Freedom, happiness, clarity, space, love
San Vincente Bungalows bans mobile phones, meaning nobody can take pictures of the A-listers, but one insider who saw them said they were in ‘extremely good spirits’.
Another source claimed that despite his book hitting their personal popularity, Harry is delighted with it.
The insider said: ‘Harry said he was really happy about the success of the book and the reaction to it.
‘He said he had no regrets about any of the revelations, and he’s relieved to have got his story out into the world. There’s been an amazing reaction to it’.
‘Prince Harry is already planning to add at least one new chapter … to the paperback version … out later this year or early next, when the hardcover sales have ended’.
But back in the UK it is claimed that the book moved Charles to kick them out of Frogmore Cottage – even though they have several years left on the lease.
Buckingham Palace issued an eviction notice to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex days after Harry’s memoir Spare – in which he made a series of sensational claims against the Royal Family – hit UK shelves in January, according to The Sun.
The newspaper claims that the Palace wants to replace the pair with the disgraced Duke of York, who currently lives at much larger Royal Lodge.
Prince Andrew may even have been offered the keys to Frogmore last week.
Andrew is said to be resisting the move, but it is said Harry and Meghan will be forced to leave the cottage – their only remaining home in the UK – and fully complete their relocation to the US irrespective of whether Andrew moves in.
The revelation comes with preparations for King Charles’ Coronation in May well underway amid speculation that Prince Harry may not receive an invitation.
MailOnline has contacted Buckingham Palace and Prince Harry’s representatives for comment.
Harry is pictured playing in the gardens of Frogmore Cottage with dogs in this grab from the couple’s Netflix documentary
A heavily pregnant Meghan is seen in Frogmore Cottage in this screenshot from the couple’s Netflix documentary
Harry and Meghan are pictured in Frogmore Cottage shortly after the birth of Archie
A Royal insider told The Sun of the move: ‘This surely spells the end of Harry and Meghan’s time in the UK.
‘Andrew is resisting the idea of moving into Frogmore Cottage after he was offered it last week.
‘But it shows Harry and Meghan are powerless to stop the eviction.’
Frogmore Cottage, a grace and favour home on the Frogmore Estate in Windsor gifted to The Duke and Duchess by the late Queen in 2018 for their wedding, is the pair’s only remaining residence in the UK.
The cottage is located just a stone’s throw away from Adelaide Cottage – the principal residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
It is more like a mansion, with five bedrooms and sprawling gardens – and underwent a multi-million pound renovation in 2018-2019 before Harry and Meghan moved in.
It had previously been five separate properties for staff working on the Windsor Estate.
The whole renovation famously cost the Sovereign Grant £2.4million.
Harry and Meghan most recently renewed their lease on the property in May 2022, after Princess Eugenie and her partner – who moved in following the Duke and Duchess’ 2020 departure – vacated the estate in a move to Portugal.
It is unknown whether they plan to fight the reported eviction.
Charles reportedly began eviction proceedings against Harry and Meghan days after the release of Spare
The Q&A with Colbert begins with the question of ‘best sandwich’, to which Harry replied: ‘A cheese and ham toastie with Dijon mustard on top’.
He and Colbert then discuss the nuances between Americanisms and Britishisms, such as the differing use of the word ‘fanny’ and different pronunciations of ‘basil’, ‘oregano’ and ‘vitamin’.
Harry says: ‘Horse riding or horse back riding – where else are you going to ride the horse?’ before gesturing as if he was clinging on and adding: ‘That instantly becomes a meme.’
The next question sees him reveal that ‘ripped boxer shorts’ are the item he owns but should throw out, and chuckles when the host asks him if they represent ‘fond memories’.
Frogmore Cottage is located just a stone’s throw from Will and Kate’s principal residence
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Prince Andrew, Duke of York inside Windsor Castle on September 19, 2022 in Windsor
He describes snakes as the scariest animal, adding: ‘I don’t like sharks but at least they’re contained to the ocean, snakes can get everywhere.’
Asked if he prefers apples or oranges, Harry points to his hair and answers: ‘Oranges, duh.’
When Colbert jokes that ‘there’s something weirdly cannibalistic about that’, the Duke replies: ‘You know if we bite you, you get gingivitis. You secretly want to be bitten, don’t you?’
Quizzed on whether he’s ever asked for an autograph, Harry says that he asked England’s World Cup-winning team of 2003 to sign his rugby top ‘after a few drinks’ following their triumph in Australia.
‘I was walking around going: ‘Jonny, Jonny, Mike, Mike, Laurence, sign my shirt!’
‘They were all standing there naked with their willies hanging out. I got all 15 signatures and I was very happy with that.’
When declaring that he’d prefer to sit in the cockpit of a plane, rather than a window or aisle seat, the crowd cheers and applauds and he clinks his glass with the host.
He then describes ‘my wife’ as his favourite smell and jokingly points towards Colbert when asked for his least favourite smell.
BetterUp is revealed as the most used app on Harry’s phone, as he adds: ‘It’s a coaching platform. It’s the quickest access to mental health coaching.’
The audience cheers and applauds again when he says he ‘obviously’ prefers dogs to cats, before performing another cringeworthy gesture.
Finley Quaye’s Love Gets Sweeter Every Day is revealed as the song he would pick if he could only listen to one for the rest of his life, before he tells Colbert: ‘You need more love in your life’.
A painstaking exchange then emerges when Harry incorrectly guesses the number the presenter is thinking of.
He says: ‘Whoa hang on a second, are these the same questions you ask everybody else? Has anyone ever got it right? Have you ever told anybody? Is there even a number you’re thinking about? Is it between one and ten? What do I win?’
Colbert replies: ‘You get to be known by people. What do we most want to be, Harry? Not alone. You want to be known. You’re welcome.’
Harry then rolls his eyes, exhales and jokingly acts as if he’s speaking into a microphone in his jacket, saying: ‘Security, can you guys come and get me out of here, this is seriously awkward.’
The final question of the segment asks him to describe the rest of his life in five words, to which the Duke replies: ‘Freedom, happiness, clarity, space, love’.
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