MEAWW.COM / NEWS / CELEBRITY NEWS

Harry repays $3.1M Frogmore Cottage renovation cost days after signing multi-million dollar Netflix deal

The taxpayer's money used for the renovation had become a bone of contention after the Sussexes stepped down as senior members of the royal family

Prince Harry has returned back taxpayers' money which he used to renovate Frogmore Cottage. The 35-year-old has given back the £2.4 million ($3.1 million) of taxpayers' money, which reportedly became possible because of his and wife Meghan Markle’s deal with Netflix, estimated between $50M and $100M. Harry’s spokesman confirmed the news and said the Duke of Sussex paid the money by making a contribution to the Sovereign Grant. While a source stated that the repayment was done because of the 35-year-old and Meghan’s deal with the streaming giant.

The spokesman said, “A contribution has been made to the Sovereign Grant by the Duke of Sussex. 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.”

Soon after his repayment news came out, a number of people took to Twitter to express their views. “#DukeAndDuchessofSussex continuing to make boss moves!!! Celebration time! Financially Independent! Repaid Frogmore Cottage!!! homeowners in LA and England!!! #princeharry, #meghanmarkle, #harryandmeghan, #meghanandharry, #harry, #meghan, #sussexroyal” wrote one user, another one said: “Now can all these haters ask the grifting Royal family to give them back the 2.4M paid back by #PrinceHarry.. After all they did say it belongs to the tax payers.. Please go ask Queenie to give it back to the public. Go get your share.”

“Harry and Meghan now. They are telling you that they don't want anything to do with Firm. Alexa play Money by Cardi. PERIODT! #harryandmeghan #Meghanmarkle #PrinceHarry #duchessofsussex #dukeofsussex,” added a third user.

According to reports, the Sussexes used taxpayers’ $3.1 million in order to refurbish Frogmore Cottage. However, after the pair stepped down as senior working royals, they agreed to repay the money.

Recently, former Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker also said that the couple should "immediately" return the money. "They can both definitely afford it. They should either pay it when the Netflix money arrives or give up the cottage. Even the monthly amount they have set is willfully inadequate. I don't mind them having this deal with Netflix, good luck to them. But if they are going to do that then they have to make sure they are not benefiting from their royal status,” Baker added.

Last week, Harry and Meghan signed a multi-million dollar deal with Netflix. Under the deal, the duo will be paid for making documentaries, docu-series, feature films, scripted shows, and children’s programming. "Our lives, both independent of each other and as a couple, have allowed us to understand the power of the human spirit: of courage, resilience, and the need for connection. Through our work with diverse communities and their environments, to shining a light on people and causes around the world, our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope. As new parents, making inspirational family programming is also important to us, as is powerful storytelling through a truthful and relatable lens,” Harry and Meghan said.