EXCLUSIVE: Prince Andrew is trying to secure Frogmore Cottage for his daughter Princess Eugenie, her husband Jack Brooksbank and their two children August and Ernest.
Prince Andrew is trying to find his daughter Princess Eugenie her ‘forever home’ (Image: Getty)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s old home Frogmore Cottage has sat officially empty since the couple were evicted by the Crown Estate last summer.
Despite the keys being handed to Prince Andrew last year, the Duke of York still hasn’t moved in and the property has remained vacant for over a year.
However, a source tells Express.co.uk that Andrew is trying to secure the cottage for his daughter Princess Eugenie, 34, her husband Jack Brooksbank and their two children August, 3, and Ernest, 1.
“Andrew won’t move into Frogmore but is still trying to wangle it for his family,” said the source. “Eugenie has stayed there on and off since Harry and Meghan left for America, she helped pack up their things.
→ Swipe to see more articles
“She’s [Eugenie] stayed there a number of times since the Sussexes departed and Andrew is trying to secure the property as a full-time home for his daughter.”
Princess Eugenie currently resides at Ivy Cottage on Kensington Palace grounds while she’s in the UK.
In the past few years, Eugenie has also spent considerable amounts of time at Frogmore Cottage – which underwent a £2.4 million renovation shortly before Harry and Meghan moved in.
The Princess of York also spends a lot of the summer months in the villa she shares with husband Jack Brooksbank in Portugal.
However, the couple are keen to spend more time in the UK and have their two sons educated in England.
“Eugenie and Jack’s hearts lie in the UK and they need a bigger home for their family,” said the source. “They adore Frogmore Cottage and have stayed there often so making it into a full-time home makes sense.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spent £2.4 million renovating Frogmore Cottage before their eviction (Image: Getty)
Meanwhile, Eugenie’s sister Princess Beatrice, 36, has found her forever home in the Cotswolds with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, their daughter Sienna, 3, and part-time addition of stepson Wolfie, 8.
Beatrice announced earlier this month that she is expecting her second child, due next spring.
“Andrew knows Beatrice is settled so wants to make sure Eugenie finds a property that she can call a family home,” said the source. “Although he won’t move out of Royal Lodge and into the cottage himself, he would still like to hold onto the property for his daughter.”
Despite trying to ensure that his daughter’s living arrangements have been finalised, the Duke of York is still in the midst of his own housing crisis with Royal Lodge.
Express.co.uk revealed last week that Andrew has been given until the end of the year to prove that he has the financial resources to refurbish his 30-room mansion or he will be evicted.
The Duke has fallen foul of the Crown Estate’s lease rules which outline that repairs must be made to the property in regular intervals otherwise they can force him out.
