Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: Royal couple to move from Kensington Palace to Windsor Castle

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will move to a flashy new pad decked out through a multimillion-dollar, taxpayer-funded renovation. But their relocation will mean they’re no longer neighbours to some of their nearest and dearest.

Prince Harry and pregnant wife Meghan are moving out of Kensington Palace and setting up a new home 35km out of London at Windsor Castle.

The move means the couple will no longer be neighbours to Harry’s older brother Prince William and his wife Catherine and their three young children.

If Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex move into a renovated Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor Castle estate, as reported @byEmilyAndrews, then safety considerations will have to be addressed, including access by the public. This is my photo of the cottage from 2016. pic.twitter.com/Iy308brp0W

— Patricia Treble (@PatriciaTreble) November 23, 2018

Kensington Palace confirmed last night that Harry and Meghan would be moving out of their two-bedroom Nottingham Cottage, at Kensington Palace in central London.

They will move to Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor Estate, surrounding Windsor Castle, early next year.

Their first child is due most likely in March or April.

The taxpayer is funding a multimillion-dollar refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which is currently split into five flats used by palace staff as accommodation.

It will be turned back into an elegant mansion with 10 bedrooms and a nursery, with room for a gym or yoga studio.

It will also provide more privacy for the royal couple.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle first child is due in March or April, 2019. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

It had been thought the couple would move into one of the apartments in Kensington Palace where William and Catherine live, but the British media reported – without providing any details - that there was “a bit of tension’’ between the brothers, so it was thought preferable to put a bit of space between them.

“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will more to Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor Estate early next year as they prepare for the arrival of their first child,’’ the palace announced, after the impending move was leaked by the British media.

“The couple have lived at Nottingham Cottage since their engagement last year.’’

Kensington Palace with Nottingham Cottage circled, where Meghan lived with Harry before their engagement when she visited London. Picture: Getty Images

Actually Meghan, an American actor, lived discreetly with Prince Harry at Nottingham Cottage whenever she was in London, prior to their engagement in November 2017. They were married at St George’s Chapel on the Windsor Castle grounds in May this year.

“Windsor is a very special place for Their Royal Highnesses and they are grateful that their official residence will be on the estate,’’ the palace said.

“The Duke and Duchess’s official office will continue to be based at Kensington Palace.’’

It was also revealed last month that the two brothers would set up separate offices, or “households’’, instead of continuing with their shared staff and households.

This was considered to be a sensible move, given Prince William is heir to the throne and will have a different role as future king to Prince Harry, who as sixth-in-line has less restrictions on the way he operates as a royal family member.

Originally published as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: Royal couple to move from Kensington Palace to Windsor Castle