Prince Harry has reportedly made a heartfelt plea to his father, King Charles, raising a poignant question about his grandchildren in the midst of his and Meghan Markle’s eviction from their UK residence.
According to royal biographer Ahmed Scobie’s upcoming book, Endgame, Harry implored for permission to use Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor Estate during his visits to the UK with Meghan.
Frogmore Cottage was gifted to the Sussexes by the late Queen after their wedding in 2018.
However, earlier this year, it was revealed that the property would be reclaimed, and Harry and Meghan were asked to vacate it.
As a result, the couple no longer has a UK home and must rely on hotels or the hospitality of friends when visiting.
The Sussex team received a letter from Sir Michael John Stevens, the keeper of the privy purse, stating that since the Duke and Duchess were no longer working members of the royal family and resided abroad, they should return the keys to Frogmore Cottage.
This residence had been bestowed upon them as a wedding gift by Queen Elizabeth II.
According to the serialization of Endgame in the French magazine Paris Match, Harry is said to have asked his father a question that could be summarized as, “Do you no longer wish to see your grandchildren?”
This question arose in the context of Harry’s plea for access to Frogmore Cottage during his visits to the UK.
Critics argue that this situation does not constitute a heartbreaking plea but rather a form of manipulation or blackmail.
They question why grandparents would need to provide a house to see their grandchildren, suggesting that this dynamic is unhealthy and may be a way for Harry to exert pressure or gain leverage.
Furthermore, Harry and Meghan’s recent purchase of a $14 million home in California has raised eyebrows.
It appears that they have significant resources, yet they claim to have nothing left for maintaining a UK residence.
Some find it curious that, given the circumstances, they did not explore alternative options such as staying in London hotels or accepting accommodations from family members.
The decision not to renew the lease for Frogmore Cottage allegedly stemmed from Harry’s failure to make the lease payments.
It should be noted that Queen Elizabeth II could not have gifted the cottage because she did not own it.
The Crown Estate typically leases out unoccupied residences on Crown lands.
The gift from the late Queen may have been for the lease payments during her lifetime and at the discretion of her successors.
Once the Sussexes moved out, the gift expired, and the default position was either to pay for the lease or forfeit it.
The way Harry and Meghan handled the situation with apparent complaints about Frogmore Cottage puzzled some observers, particularly considering that Harry may have initially expected to receive Frogmore House, a more substantial property.
This outcome was seen as an ungrateful response.
In addition to this, Paris Match has claimed that an upcoming tome reveals a message circulating within the royal family advising caution when dealing with Harry after the release of his memoir, Spare.
A source close to the king purportedly indicated that Charles was wary following the publication of the book.
This caution was prompted after Prince Harry called his father three weeks after the book’s release to convey his best wishes, aiming to keep the conversation focused on a benign exchange concerning Harry.