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Turns out, the Queen Wasn't So into Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Living in Windsor Castle
Queen Elizabeth reportedly "steered them away from the idea."
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are raising their newborn son, Archie, at Frogmore Cottage, but according to Town & Country, it wasn't the Sussex family's "first choice of residence."
The Sunday Times had reported that Harry and Markle initially wanted to live at Windsor Castle — with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip — but the Queen wasn't so keen on the idea.
"The couple are understood to have set their hearts at first on Windsor Castle, and are believed to have asked the Queen if living quarters could be made available after their marriage," reads the report.
Then Prince Harry and Markle decided to give Frogmore a $3.05-million makeover suitable for a move-in.
"There are empty bedrooms and suites in the private apartments at Windsor] which the Sussexes may have had their eye on, or perhaps some former living quarters in the castle grounds converted into other things. But I can see how it might not be entirely appropriate to have a young family living there," T&C reports.
Even though the couple have regularly spent time at Windsor, Frogmore it is for the family.
British royal commentator Eloise Parker told Personal Space that, well, anyone in their right mind would want to reside at Windsor.
"It's easy to understand why Harry and Meghan might have been attracted to Windsor Castle, with its romantic grandeur and rich history," she explained. "The Queen only uses Windsor Castle primarily as a weekend residence, so the two royal households would hardly have been under one another's feet."
But, Parker continued, "There are plenty of private apartments within the castle complex, but they're not all as lavish as you might expect. There are so many restrictions on renovating such a historic building to today's standard of luxury. Forget about en-suite bedrooms.
"I'd suspect that the Queen knew that Meghan and Harry would be much more comfortable raising their growing family in Frogmore Cottage. The new parents were given much more control over the renovations than they would have had inside Windsor Castle. Now, they can adjust to family life in the privacy of their own fully-modernized compound, while still being able to enjoy the stunning castle grounds."
There you have it, no shade from the Queen, she just wants Prince Harry and Markle to be comfortable.
