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It is 'unclear' how Harry and Meghan will repay $3m they spent on Frogmore renovation, say royal officials

The couple has offered to refund the cost of renovation at their UK family home as part of their "exit package"
UPDATED JAN 21, 2020
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

It seems royal officials are still wondering how Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will pay back the £2.4million ($3.1m) in taxpayer funds they used to revamp Frogmore Cottage. The couple has offered to refund the cost of renovation at their UK family home as part of their "exit package." The cost of building work was previously paid for by the 'Sovereign Grant' -- the government funds allocated for the Queen. The Sussexes said they wanted to keep the five-bedroom mansion on Windsor estate as a family home in the UK while announcing their plan to step down as senior royals. 

A general view of Frogmore Cottage at Frogmore Cottage on April 10, 2019, in Windsor, England. (Getty Images)

Royal officials, following outrage, agreed with Harry and Meghan that they would repay the huge sum paid by the public for a home the couple would barely live in. But officials have no idea how the payment would be made or how long it would take for the couple to reimburse the taxpayer money.

"The mechanism by which they pay the money has yet to be worked out," one of them was quoted by UK's Daily Mail.

Prince Charles is expected to continue to fund his son for at least a year. He would do this without using public funds, either via the Duchy of Cornwall estate or from his personal investments. However, it is yet to be confirmed whether Charles would bail the couple out completely. "This will all be sat down and discussed in due course," a source told the outlet.

Furthermore, it is unclear what rent Harry and Meghan will pay for staying on the property. According to officials, the couple will pay the Crown Estate an undisclosed amount every month to retain the family home.

They insisted that a fair commercial rate would be charged to the couple, as opposed to claims they would be a nominal "peppercorn" rent. That said, this could range anywhere between £5,000 ($6,536) to £30,000 (~$40,000) a month. Built from five apartments, the Frogmore property needed significant structural work paid via the Sovereign Grant. Prince Charles reportedly helped finance the project, while Harry and Meghan paid for various fixtures and fittings on the property.

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