Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were living at Frogmore Cottage RENT FREE

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were living at Frogmore Cottage rent free due to a deal they agreed with Buckingham Palace after they paid back GBP2.4million in refurbishment costs. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex requested several modifications to the property before moving in.

However, the couple stayed in Frogmore Cottage for less than a year before moving to California via a short spell in Canada. It was reported that Meghan and Harry would pay a "commercial rate" for the five-bedroom mansion on the Windsor estate.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex requested several modifications to the property before moving in.

PA However, Palace officials confirmed over the weekend that the lump-sum payment wiped out the Sussexes' rental obligations as the increased value of the property following renovations as 'rent in lieu'. It is estimated that Frogmore would cost between GBP150,000 and GBP230,000 a year to rent, meaning Meghan and Harry would have saved around GBP700,000.

The Sussexes will not be renewing their lease for the property. A Palace spokesperson told the Mail: "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a contribution of GBP2.4million to the Sovereign Grant which covered the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage. "They have fulfilled their financial obligations in relation to the property.

"In line with usual practice for the Sovereign Grant report, the accounting treatment was scrutinised and signed off by the National Audit Office and the Treasury. "As with any such agreement between landlord and tenant, further details regarding the Sussexes' tenancy arrangements would be a private matter." The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were given use of the five-bedroom Frogmore Cottage by the Queen as a wedding present in 2018.

The Sussexes will not be renewing their lease for the property.

PA Meghan and Harry have barely lived in the royal residence over the last three years. Prince Harry did stay in Frogmore Cottage in 2021 when he flew back to the UK for Prince Philip's funeral.

Princess Eugenie lived in the property after Meghan and Harry moved to the US.

However, Prince Andrew's youngest daughter now lives in Portugal.

Prince Harry later paid back the cost of the renovations to the UK taxpayer in a deal which included leasing Frogmore Cottage for "several years".