Meghan Markle was reportedly surprised by the stark material differences between Prince Harry and Prince William’s living conditions during her first visit to their apartment, according to royal correspondent Robert Jobson.
In his recently released book, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, Jobson reveals that the Duchess of Sussex was “taken aback” when she first visited William and Kate Middleton’s apartment at Kensington Palace in January 2017. This visit marked Meghan’s introduction to the Prince and Princess of Wales, and it left a lasting impression on her, particularly regarding the disparity between the brothers’ living arrangements, via The Mirror.
“It is understood that when Meghan and Harry had gone round to have drinks at William and Catherine’s apartment, while they were still living at Nottingham Cottage opposite, Meghan had been ‘taken aback’ at the disparity between the brothers,” Jobson writes, told The New York Post. A close source noted, “I am not saying Meghan was jealous, but she was really surprised how lavishly Harry’s brother was living compared to where they were living.”
At the time, Prince Harry and Meghan were residing in Nottingham Cottage, one of the smallest properties on the Kensington Palace estate. The modest home featured just two bedrooms and one bathroom, a far cry from the luxurious accommodations enjoyed by William and Kate. The Prince and Princess of Wales were living in the expansive 20-room Apartment 1A, which had been their London residence since their marriage in 2011.
The contrast in living conditions reportedly surprised Meghan, and Jobson suggests that this may have been the beginning of tensions between the two couples. The differences in their lifestyles highlighted the distinct paths their lives had taken within the royal family.
Prince Harry later reflected on this in his 2023 memoir, Spare, where he admitted feeling “embarrassed” to bring Meghan to Nottingham Cottage. “I was excited to welcome Meg to my home, but also embarrassed. Nott Cott was no palace,” he wrote, acknowledging the modesty of their residence compared to that of his brother, via Express.
After their marriage in 2017, Harry and Meghan moved to Frogmore Cottage, a more spacious and private residence that offered them greater comfort and seclusion. However, the initial disparity between their living conditions remained a poignant moment in their early relationship, underscoring the material differences that existed between the royal brothers.