Meghan Markle believed royal family ‘belittled’ Prince Harry with ‘small’ first home, book claims
Harry previously said Nottingham Cottage was "no palace"
Meghan Markle reportedly felt that the royal family “belittled” Prince Harry by housing them in the “small” and modest Nottingham Cottage.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, 43, initially made Nottingham Cottage – a two-bedroom property on the grounds of Kensington Palace – their first home together.
However, in his new book Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, royal author Tom Quinn claimed that Meghan was disappointed with their living arrangements.
Meghan Markle disappointed with ‘small’ house with Prince Harry
In an excerpt published in The Times, Quinn claimed a source told him: “Meghan felt it was so small that it must be a reflection on how the royal family were belittling her husband.”
Meghan reportedly struggled to understand why they were given a relatively modest property, especially when compared to the grander homes of other royals.
A palace staff member was quoted in the book explaining the difference in perspectives.
“She just didn’t understand that real royals don’t care much about houses and material possessions,” they alleged. “Having always had them, they take them for granted.”
Meghan felt it was so small that it must be a reflection on how the royal family were belittling her husband.
According to Quinn, Harry, 40, had no issue with the home – but Meghan felt differently.
“A rather beautiful house in the grounds of a famous palace hardly seemed to Harry the equivalent of being forced to live in a shed at the end of the garden,” Quinn wrote. “But for Meghan, things were more complex.”
She reportedly compared their residence with that of Prince William and Princess Kate. The couple lived just a short distance away in the main Kensington Palace residence, complete with teams of live-in staff.
Prince Harry previously opened up about the cottage, admitting it was “no palace”.
In his 2023 memoir Spare, Harry described feeling “embarrassed” to show Meghan where he lived.
Despite this, Nottingham Cottage was the setting for some of their happiest early moments, including Harry’s proposal to Meghan.
Harry and Meghan moving to Frogmore Cottage was a ‘big deal’
After their 2018 wedding, Harry and Meghan moved out of Nottingham Cottage and relocated to Frogmore Cottage.
The home resided on the grounds of Windsor Home Park and was a wedding gift from Queen Elizabeth II.
However, previous reports claimed that Harry and Meghan initially wanted to live within Windsor Castle itself. The couple reportedly requested living quarters inside the castle but were denied.
In her 2022 book The New Royals, royal expert Katie Nicholl said the late queen hoped they would appreciate the gift of Frogmore Cottage.
Who is Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex?
Meghan Markle was born on August 4, 1981, in California, United States. She is currently 43 years old. She had a career in acting before marrying into the royal family in 2018.
What did Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex do before joining the monarchy?
Former actress Meghan had a string of acting roles before she met Prince Harry, most famously playing the role of Rachel Zane in legal drama Suits.
Her acting career began at Northwestern University.
The duchess also wrote a lifestyle blog named The Tig and became heavily involved in charity work - which has continued since she met Harry.
Marrying Prince Harry
Meghan married into the royal family on May 19, 2018, when she and Prince Harry tied the knot at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Just a few months after their wedding, Meghan and Harry announced they were expecting their first child. They welcomed Prince Archie on May 6, 2019.
Two years later on June 4, 2021, the couple welcomed a daughter named Princess Lilibet. She was named after the late Queen Elizabeth II - whose nickname was Lilibet.
Months after welcoming son Archie, Prince Harry and Meghan announced they were stepping down from their senior royal roles within the royal family. They then moved to the United States and have lived there since.
Meghan has made a return to the entertainment world, launching projects with Netflix alongside Harry. In January 2025, she announced a lifestyle show named With Love, Meghan, which will see her giving cooking and gardening tips to viewers alongside a host of celebrity guests. It will premiere on March 4, 2025.
Lady Elizabeth Anson, the late queen’s cousin, told Katie: “The cottage was a big deal. The queen’s entrance into the gardens is right next to their cottage. It is essentially her backyard, her solitude, and her privacy.”
Lady Elizabeth, who died in 2020, was also quoted in the book: “[The queen] was giving that up in gifting Harry and Meghan Frogmore Cottage. We all thought it was very big of her. She said, ‘I hope they’ll respect it.'”
Harry and Meghan’s housing arrangements have long been a source of tension, with comparisons made to the grander residences of other royal family members.
Prince William and Kate now reside in Adelaide Cottage – a four-bedroom house in Windsor Home Park.
In early 2020, Harry and Meghan moved to the United States – where Meghan is from – after quitting their senior royal roles. They now live in Montecito in California.
Read more: How Meghan Markle ‘dominated’ Prince Harry in ‘awkward’ appearance: ‘Absolutely absurd’
Royal Insider contacted reps for Meghan and Harry on the new book’s claims.
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