This has to be a joke??? Britain's Prince Harry loses home on royal estate: reports

[pnwmom]

148. A two hundred year old house in poor condition, with saggy floor joints, ceiling beams,

and a electrical and heating system that needed to be replaced (complete with a new electrical substation) -- among other things.

The dumpy house probably would have been a tear-down in any US city, but it was on the Palace grounds, so it had to be rehabbed.

But it all worked out very well for The Firm. Before the Queen "gave" it to Harry, it was on the list for a long overdue rehab, but she gave it to Harry and Meghan instead. The Firm initially funded the work, as a "grant" which turned into a "loan" which Harry and Meghan had to pay back after they left the UK.

And now The Firm has the beautifully remodeled property, paid for at Harry and Meghan's expense -- and they've ordered the two of them to vacate.

No one ever said the Palace doesn't know how to run a good scam.

This was what The Firm said at the outset:

https://www.eonline.com/news/1051939/here-s-how-much-prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-s-home-renovations-really-cost

According to The Sovereign Grant and Sovereign Grant Reserve's annual report, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's upgrades to Frogmore Cottage cost £2.4 million (over $3 million) in taxpayer funds.

"The property had not been the subject of work for some years and had already been earmarked for renovation in line with our responsibility to maintain the condition of the occupied royal palaces estate," Sir Michael Stevens, who is the Keeper of the Privy Purse and responsible for the monarchy's accounts, said. "The Sovereign Grant covered the work undertaken to turn the building into the official residence and home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their new family. The building was returned to a single residence and outdated infrastructure was replaced to guarantee the long-term future of the property."

Per the report, the funds were used to reconfigure and fully refurbish five residential units in "poor condition"—turning them into one official home. A royal source said the work included replacing defective wooden ceiling beams and floor joists, updating outdated and inefficient heating systems, doing electrical rewiring and installing new gas and water mains.

Before The Firm "gave" Frogmore to Harry and Meghan, it was used for servants quarters.

https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2018112865050/royal-chef-describes-prince-harry-meghan-markle-frogmore-cottage/

Darren, who lived next door to the Cottage at Frogmore Stables from 1985 to 1993, revealed: "When I was there, Frogmore Cottage was split into five different homes. Staff accommodation was run by the Crown properties so it was paid for by the government and they never really overspend. It was a fantastic location – you're in the Queen's back garden – but a little bit run-down. If something wanted repairing it would just be repaired, it would never be replaced. The staff quarters were never the most luxurious so I can imagine there's a lot of work to be done to turn them into royal accommodation."

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54062799

Even though Harry and Meghan had repaid The Firm for the renovations, because they wanted the cottage as a secure place to stay when they visited his family, they were required to vacate -- and before the Coronation. So apparently The Firm wants Harry and Meghan to stay away -- and they're too cheap to pay them back for the renovations on the home they've seized.

It was Harry and Meghan who announced that they would repay the cost of renovating Frogmore Cottage. In such way a line is drawn, and the couple may perceive themselves to be free of any of the obligations they once laboured under.

The duke's spokesman said of the repayment: "This contribution as originally offered by Prince Harry has fully covered the necessary renovation costs of Frogmore Cottage, a property of Her Majesty The Queen, and will remain the UK residence of the duke and his family."

Last year's royal accounts showed the cost of the renovations was £2.4 million and was covered by the grant.