King Charles is "sending the wrong message with Frogmore Cottage", several years after the Sussexes evicted the property, a commentator has claimed.
The King is currently pursuing cost-cutting measures across the monarchy, evidenced by the Royal Train ceasing operations after 156 years of service.
The historic train, which dates back to Queen Victoria's reign in 1869, will be decommissioned before 2027 due to high operating costs and the need for significant upgrades.
The decision comes as the Royal Family receives unchanged public funding of £86.3 million for the fourth consecutive year, despite inflation eroding its value. Yet whilst the monarchy seeks to demonstrate financial discipline, one prominent royal property remains conspicuously vacant.
King Charles 'sending the wrong message' with Frogmore Cottage years after Sussex eviction.
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Robin Edwards, property buying agent at Curetons, has spoken exclusively to GB News about Frogmore Cottage, which has sat empty since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle vacated it in 2023.
"Frogmore Cottage has become something of a symbol in the ongoing conversation around the Royal Family's finances and whether they offer good value for money to the taxpayer," Edwards told the People's Channel.
He highlighted the contradiction between the empty property and the monarchy's modernisation efforts. "With the Sussexes having vacated the property several years ago and it now sitting empty, it raises awkward questions, particularly at a time when the monarchy is trying to show it is moving with the times and cutting back other costs, such as recently announcing the decommissioning of the Royal Train."
The timing proves particularly uncomfortable as Palace officials emphasise financial discipline. James Chalmers, responsible for the King's financial affairs, stated that the royal household must be "disciplined and forward-looking in our allocation of funding."
The Sussexes had been told to clear their possessions out of Frogmore in 2023.PAEdwards expressed concern about the practical and symbolic implications of the vacant property. "From a property perspective, leaving a high-profile home like Frogmore Cottage unoccupied sends the wrong message. It's not just about optics, though; it's also about practicality," he said.
He warned that empty properties face accelerated deterioration. "An empty property deteriorates faster, and in the case of Frogmore Cottage, which underwent a costly renovation not long ago, the fact that it isn't being lived in or repurposed risks appearing wasteful."
The property expert emphasised the poor timing given the current economic pressures. "When many people in the country are struggling with the cost of living and housing costs in particular, leaving a royal residence empty does little to help the institution's public image."
Edwards suggested practical solutions for the empty residence. "At the very least, the property could be made functional, whether that's through staff housing or short-term accommodation for visiting royal guests," he said.
King Charles axes beloved Royal Train to help fund £369million Buckingham Palace makeover.GettyLATEST ROYAL NEWS:
Harry and Meghan were evicted from their UK home at Frogmore Cottage in 2023.
PAHe concluded that the vacant property represents a significant oversight. "Leaving it sitting vacant seems a massive missed opportunity and risks reinforcing the view that the Royal Family is out of touch with the reality most people are living in."
The royal finances remain under scrutiny as the monarchy balances tradition with modernisation. However, monarchists see the costs associated with the Royal Family as "value for money".
According to the Institute for Government, royal-themed products (from memorabilia to television shows like The Crown) are estimated to be worth tens of millions of pounds.
In addition, there was a 28 per cent increase in Eurostar train bookings to the UK before Prince William and Princess Kate's wedding in 2011; tourists then spent money on UK businesses.