Writer Omid Scobie‘s book “Endgame” has shed new light on King Charles III‘s decision to evict Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from Frogmore Cottage.
Scobie claimed the couple was shocked and disappointed by the news, which he called a “cheap shot from a wounded father.” He said it was also done to streamline the properties being used by the royal family members.
Meghan Markle & Prince Harry’s Eviction Was A ‘Punishment’
Scobie addressed Harry and Meghan’s controversial eviction from Frogmore Cottage in his new book. He said multiple Royal sources confirmed that the eviction was “undoubtedly” a punishment from King Charles for the couple’s Netflix series, “Harry & Meghan.”
The Netflix docuseries, which was released in two parts, shed some light on the Royal Family’s treatment of Meghan and attacked several members. Despite that, one source said Harry and Meghan had a “feeling of shock and disappointment” when they received the news about their eviction from their home in the U.K.
According to Scobie, Frogmore Cottage was the “only truly safe option” Harry and Meghan had for their family for visits to the United Kingdom. The property is surrounded by armed royal guards, so they would be protected despite not being able to access standard royal protection.
King Charles’ Eviction Branded A ‘Cheap Shot’ From A ‘Wounded Father’
In his book, Scobie said the eviction decision taken by King Charles wasn’t only to “punish” Harry and Meghan for their action. One source said it was also part of recent steps the monarch has taken to “streamline the portfolio of properties being used by members of the family.”
However, punishing the couple was also a major motivation for the decision. The eviction announcement was made public just weeks after Harry released his controversial memoir “Spare” in January. At the time, the couple was asked to remove all remaining possessions from the cottage and return the keys.
Scobie wrote, “Staying mum about Harry’s accusations and remaining publicly unconcerned for his son’s wellbeing while ending his family’s lease on a safe U.K. residence was not a decisive action by a resolute King. It was a cheap shot from a wounded father bound by an institutional system that is often intolerant of human emotion.”
Princess Anne Pushed For Harry & Meghan’s Eviction
In “Endgame,” Scobie also attributed the eviction to another popular senior royal, Princess Anne, King Charles’ sister. An excerpt published in The Telegraph shared the events leading up to the final eviction from Frogmore cottage, revealing the decision wasn’t made by only King Charles.
Scobie wrote that Princess Anne persuaded King Charles to retract access to the cottage from the couple since they stepped down as senior working royals. He claimed that Anne wanted a “firm approach” to the situation, while Prince Edward had uneasy feelings about the decision, which many have said was extreme.
The eviction notice was reportedly then sent to Harry and Meghan in a letter from Sir Michael John Stevens. In it, Stevens asked the couple to return the keys to the cottage to the Royal institution.
After they received the letter, Scobie notes that Harry called his father to ask about the eviction decision. In a reportedly tense exchange, the Prince asked if the King had any desire to see his grandchildren, and Charles stayed silent before assuring Harry that their family would always have “somewhere to stay” when visiting the U.K.
Harry & Meghan Repaid The Refurbishment Costs
Harry and Meghan initially moved out of Frogmore when they stepped down as senior royals and moved to America in 2020. They were gifted the cottage, which is located near Windsor Castle in Berkshire, by Queen Elizabeth during their wedding in May 2018.
In 2019, Royal accounts revealed that Harry and Meghan had repaid the £2.4 million ($3 million) cost of refurbishing and renting the cottage to the Home Park Estate. After their relocation, the couple only used the home a few times during visits to the U.K. They’ve rented private property for all subsequent visits, which have mostly been only Harry.
During the annual Sovereign Grant account briefing in June this year, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Harry and Meghan had fully “vacated Frogmore Cottage.” There have since been reports that the property was offered to disgraced Prince Andrew, which Scobie referred to as the “final blow” for the couple.