Harry and Meghan’s Frogmore Cottage eviction sparks royal family civil war

The battle lines have now been drawn right through the royal family, after King Charles’ stunning decision to evict his son and daughter-in-law.

Prince Harry’s eviction from Frogmore Cottage has reportedly sparked a royal civil war.

Harry and Meghan’s Frogmore Cottage eviction has sparked a civil war between the royal family’s “workers and shirkers”.

The California-based couple are said to be stunned after getting notice to move their belongings from their Windsor home — amid reports Prince Andrew will be moving in, according to The Sun.

On Wednesday, the Sussexes confirmed The Sun’s report of their impending eviction.

Their spokesman said: “We can confirm The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been requested to vacate their residence at Frogmore Cottage.”

The publication reports that they were told just 24 hours after the publication of Prince Harry’s book Spare in January.

King Charles is offering the home to Andrew — after promising he would not leave his brother homeless or penniless.

The new monarch wants to move from past scandals before May’s Coronation.

His plans are understood to be backed by working royals including Queen Consort Camilla, 75, and Prince and Princess of Wales.

The family during happier times in 2018. Picture: Paul Ellis/AFP

But a rival camp — the Sussexes and other non-working royals, including Andrew, 64, plus his daughters, Princesses Beatrice, 34, and Eugenie, 32 — are understood to feel appalled by the moves.

Harry and Meghan, now based in the US, were gifted five-bed Frogmore Cottage by the Queen and have kept it as their UK residence.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are said to be “appalled” by their uncle’s decision. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

It is understood there has been a flurry of letters and emails between Buckingham Palace and the couple’s home in Montecito, California, in the last seven weeks.

The Sussexes were initially given a few weeks to pack up and leave the keys. But after fraught negotiations they have until after the Coronation to ship their belongings.

The pair have yet to be told if they are invited to the May 6 ceremony at Westminster Abbey, The Sun understands.

A source said: “Charles wanted to start after his Coronation with the issues of Harry and Meghan and Andrew put to bed.

“The situation has dragged on far too long and he wanted to act decisively and quickly.”

The Sussexes could ask for the royal family to pay them back money they spent on Frogmore.

They returned $4.27 million to the taxpayer spent on renovations and paid a substantial amount to cover future rent. But the eviction cuts short the lease agreement by several years, it is understood.

The five-bedroom cottage is located in Berkshire. Picture: GOR/Getty Images

On Thursday, Omid Scobie, author of biography Finding Freedom, said the pair were stunned by their eviction. He quoted a friend of the couple who said: “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.”

Meanwhile, Andrew is said to be resisting attempts to move to Frogmore. He has told friends he fears he will not be able to afford the upkeep at his current home Royal Lodge in Windsor when his annual $442,000 grant is slashed from next month.

The Sun has already revealed Charles has stepped in to pay Andrew’s security after stripping his armed police protection. He has also closed the Duke’s office and apartment at Buckingham Palace.

Beatrice and Eugenie held two meetings with Charles last year begging him to help find a role for their dad after he was stripped of his titles and royal roles.

Eugenie is close to Harry and Meghan and the only royal who has visited the Sussexes in California since Megxit. She is also believed to have been on a list of family approached by Harry’s Spare ghostwriter JR Moehringer.

Eugenie, husband Jack Brooksbank and their son were also given Frogmore Cottage temporarily during lockdown.

An insider said: “There is now a clear dividing line between the working members of the Royal Family and the non-working members like the Yorks and Sussexes.”

Working royals are senior members of the family who carry out official duties and engagements on behalf of the Crown.

The most prominent are Charles and Camilla, Kate and William, Anne, Edward and Sophie Wessex.

Andrew has been a non-working royal after he stepped down in 2019 amid his Newsnight interview about his links with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre.

Andrew - pictured here in conversation with Charles last September - has so far resisted the offer to move. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice decided not to be working royals and have full-time jobs but retain their HRH titles.

Harry and Meghan lost their working royal status and use of HRH titles when they moved to the US in early 2020.

Fears of a royal split emerged in September when William, Charles and Camilla dined at Birkhall hours after the Queen’s death.

Harry spent the evening grieving with Anne, Edward and Sophie.

The Duke of York has been “keeping an eye” on the creation of the Sussexes’ Archewell charity and how they became financially independent through multimillion deals with the likes of Netflix and Spotify.

Meghan revealed in her interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021 that she knew Eugenie before she started dating Harry.

In the early days of the Sussexes’ relationship, they went on double dates with Eugenie and Jack. Last week, pregnant Eugenie was spotted at an art show in LA, not far from Montecito where the Sussexes own an $21 million mansion.

It is not known if the three met while in California.

There have been rumours that Eugenie and Jack have been eyeing property in West Hollywood.

A Palace source said any discussions over accommodations between the individuals would be a private family matter.

The Palace did not comment.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission