Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s taxpayer funded renovation of country mansion Frogmore Cottage kept secret over ‘security concerns’

TAXPAYERS may be funding the renovation of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's new home - but the plans are being kept secret for "security" reasons.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to move into Frogmore Cottage in Windsor next spring after the 19th century house was given to them by the Queen.

The Grade-II listed building has been used to house rent-paying members of the royal staff - but the building is said to have fallen into disrepair and needs a refurbishment.

Now a planning application submitted to the council about details of the planned work has been kept sealed from the public due to "sensitive information" contained in the plans.

A special note on the application for "internal and external works to a Listed Building and associated landscaping" says that architect's drawings and other documents about the renovations are to be kept secret.

The royal couple - who are expecting the birth of their first child in April - will move to the house from their current residence in Nottingham Cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace.

Harry and Meghan had their wedding reception at Frogmore House which stands near the cottage.

Reports say that the Sussexes plan to to turn the cottage into a five-bedroom home with room for a live-in nanny.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson said that all substantial building work is funded by the Sovereign Grant - which is ultimately funded by ordinary taxpayers, the reports.

But it is understood that any decorative work inside the cottage will be paid for by Harry and Meghan.

Currently, Frogmore is divided into five flats, meaning there is ample room for Meghan's mum Doria Ragland to have her own accommodation.

The former social worker is expected to stay with the couple on a regular basis and be a "hands-on" grandmother.

And with Windsor Castle within half a maile of Frogmore Cottage, the new baby will close to the Queen, who will be their great-grandmother.

But it's unclear when the secretive remodelling of the house will be completed.

The planning application note reads: "Bodies such as the diplomatic community and owners of critical national infrastructure may submit planning applications that contain sensitive information.

"These applications will often concern improvements to the physical security of the premises and may contain information which the applicant wishes the local planning authority to consider, but which the applicant does not wish to be made available on the planning register."
Last week, The Sun exclusively revealed Harry and Meghan will be leaving their current residence in Kensington Palace.

A source said that the Sussexes may have wanted to move away from their residence next to Prince William and Kate Middleton because "Kate and Meghan are very different people".

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