Meghan And Harry Face Pressure To Pay Back Taxpayers' $3 Million That Was Spent On Renovations For U.K. Home

Jan 10, 2020 by apost team

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have just announced that they are stepping back from their senior roles as members of the British Royal family. With the public wondering what this will mean for the royal family, the Duke and Duchess said they continue to use their newly renovated cottage paid for by taxpayers. This decision has critics calling for them to payback the renovations spent on the crown's property as the couple will no longer be performing royal duties. 

The Royal Household released figures last year that showed how Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had spent £2.4 million (Equivalent to about $3 Million) on renovating the Frogmore Cottage at Windsor into a family home. The cottage had previously been 5 separate residences but the renovations conjoined the homes into one single property.

The cost of the renovations were paid out from taxpayer’s pockets via the Sovereign Grant. According to the royal family’s website, the Sovereign Grant “is the amount of money provided by Government to the Royal Household in support of The Queen’s official duties, including the maintenance of the Occupied Royal Palaces” which include Windsor where the Frogmore Cottage is based.

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In addition to stepping back as royals, Meghan and Harry say they will seek to become financially independent from the royal family. Graham Smith, chief executive of the campaign group Republic, believes that the claim is empty. 

"It's not just Frogmore Cottage - they're going to be relying on the Metropolitan Police to provide security," he said to The Mirror.  "And they are going to be relying on their official title to cash in and make a profit on those official titles that they hold.

Smith believes the taxpayers should be paid back as Meghan and Harry will no longer be performing royal duties. "I certainly think they owe the taxpayer a refund. They have spent £2.4m ($3 million) on refurbishing their house on the taxpayer. It was going to be their home and now they've decided to live elsewhere so we need that money back. They need to abandon their claim to that house."

The property was given to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex by Queen Elizabeth however, the cottage needed extensive refurbishment. The palace said the property had “defective wooden ceiling beams and floor joists were replaced and inefficient heating systems updated.

The house also required extensive rewiring - including an electrical sub-station - and the installation of gas and water mains.” Meghan and Harry also spent £4 million ($5 million) on renovations at Kensington Palace converting offices into an apartment.

What is your point of view on Meghan and Harry’s renovations? Should they repay it back? Tell us below. Show this article to friends or family that would find it interesting.