Meghan Markle and Prince Harry moved into Nottingham Cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace after they were engaged, but the Duchess of Sussex reportedly had grander ideas
Meghan Markle was accused of making demands to live in huge apartments at Windsor Castle so she could “share space with the Queen.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved into Nottingham Cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace after Prince Harry popped the question in 2017, and Meghan relocated to the UK permanently ahead of their wedding. The quaint cottage was what Harry dubbed his “starter home”, but the two-bedroom property – which had a tiny garden – wasn’t substantial enough for the couple.
Harry and Meghan discussed living in the cottage in their Netflix docu-series, as the former actress confessed she thought they would be living in “something more regal” after getting engaged. “As far as people were concerned, we were living in a palace. And we were, in a cottage…,” he said during one episode. “Kensington Palace sounds very regal, of course it does. It says ‘palace’ in the name! But Nottingham Cottage was so small,” Meghan added.
Meghan and Kate’s relationship didn’t get off to a good start
Now, the mother-of-two has been accused of making “demands” to get better accommodation when she first relocated to the UK to live with Harry. Royal expert Kinsey Schofield told GB News that the 43-year-old asked if they could live in Windsor Castle, which is where they had their wedding reception, after they exchanged vows in 2018. “ Meghan Markle, after she married Prince Harry, approached the family and asked if they could have suites within Windsor Castle,” she claimed. “She wanted to share the same space with the Queen, and she was denied that space for multiple reasons.”
Meghan was reportedly told why she wouldn’t be allowed to live in Windsor Castle, and was warned the couple’s privacy would be intruded upon as there are numerous public tours of the castle during the year. However, Kinsey claimed Meghan’s “fixation” on securing suites within the huge castle came from her rivalry with Kate Middleton, who lived in a lavish apartment with Prince William and their children in Kensington Palace, and she wanted “something of similar value”.
William and Kate were given apartment 1A by the Queen as a wedding present in 2011, and the massive living quarters was spread over four floors and features over 20 rooms, including three kitchens and nine rooms for members of staff, including nannies for their three children. The apartment underwent an extensive renovation before they moved in, and also includes two nurseries for their kids, as well as a private gym and elevator.