Ever since their royal exit, the Sussexes have been doing their best to transition to life in American—and now that includes settling any debts. While originally paid for by a Sovereign fund, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Frogmore Cottage repayments have reportedly begun. The effort marks an important gesture to British taxpayers, some of whom initially criticized the Duke and Duchess for using public funds to refurbish the historic estate in 2019.
In case you’re new to the drama: Meghan, 38, and Harry, 35, came under fire in the months before they announced their plan to step back from the royal family due to their Frogmore property . At the time, the couple approved renovations for a cottage on the Frogmore Estate using money from the Sovereign Grant, a public fund by British taxpayers to support senior members of the royal family.
The couple moved into the cottage following Baby Archie’s birth, but they weren’t there for long. By Jan. 2020, they’d announced their royal exit strategy—including plans for keeping the cottage as their home in the UK. “Frogmore Cottage will continue to be the property of Her Majesty the Queen,” they wrote on their website.
View this post on Instagram “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment.
The Sussexes have reportedly already started repayments—and they are expected to keep paying them for the next 11 years, according to Marie Claire. The total refurbishment cost to Frogmore Cottage is estimated at approximately £2.4 million , meaning that they will pay around £18,000 a month for over a decade. Here’s hoping those new jobs in California work out for them.