Kerry Parnell: Royal Family pawns in Westeros-style game as Charles sends no mercy message

King Charles has sent a clear message to his royal clan – including Harry and Meghan – shape up or I’ll ship you out, writes Kerry Parnell.

In the Game of Homes, the new King is showing no mercy.

In what could be a plot from Westeros, Charles has started his reign by sending a clear message to his clan – shape up or I’ll ship you out.

This week, it emerged Charles has given Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, the boot from Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. According to reports, they must vacate their remaining UK-base to make way for Prince Andrew, who is also under instruction to leave his home of the last 20 years, Royal Lodge, nearby.

Sussex spokesman and royal writer, Omid Scobie, said the cottage was the family’s “only sufficiently secure refuge in the country since their access to armed police protection was taken away in 2020” and they had not only re-paid the renovation costs, but rent on it for the foreseeable future.

The news “has left Harry and Meghan stunned, and at least two members of the Royal Family ‘appalled’,” he wrote for Yahoo News. According to Scobie, a friend of the couple, it feels “like a cruel punishment,” as though the family, “want to cut them out of the picture for good”.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, have been evicted from Frogmore Cottage by King Charles III. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

It’s all part of sweeping cuts the King is making. From next month, he’s also axing Andrew’s £249,000 annual allowance, which would leave his brother unlikely to be able to fund the running costs of his 30-room mansion, previously the home of the Queen Mother.

Charles has long been open about his desire to slim down the monarchy, ending the practise of wider family members living in grace and favour homes. Nobody would disagree with that.

King Charles. Picture: Daniel Leal/AFP

Prince Andrew. Picture: Daniel Leal/AFP

But, then, a part of me thinks this battle over Frogmore is – whispers – a little petty. After all, it’s not as though Charles doesn’t have a gazillion properties to dish out.

Charles has enjoyed the run of the Duchy of Cornwall his adult life, until recently passing it on to Prince William. Set up in the 14th century by Edward III for his heir, this enormous portfolio of land and property covers 53,000 hectares and includes the King’s home Highbury, as well as his holiday house in Wales. He also privately owns Birkhall, on the Balmoral Estate. That’s before you get to all the other royal residences – Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Clarence House, the various homes at Kensington Palace, as well as the privately-owned Balmoral Castle and Sandringham House.

Frogmore Cottage, the former home of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Picture: GOR/Getty Images

As well as the main residences, there are hundreds of properties on the various royal estates, which are rented out to staff and family members, as well as lots of holiday cottages run by the Duchy of Cornwall. They’re not exactly short of room(s).

And while, of course, it’s right non-working royals should fund themselves, it’s just a bit of an odd optic that staff can have homes – some of them after they retire – but not the King’s son. Harry’s moany description of “frat house” Nottingham Cottage aside, the disproportionate distribution of wealth – and homes – in the family, is odd – especially as the heir really does have plenty to spare.

Whatever the motive, moving your relegated relatives around like pawns on a chessboard has a bit of a whiff of the Iron Throne. All we need next are dragons.