Page 7 | What's the big deal about Fogmore Cottage?

Price21210 · 2023-03-07T19:13:29+00:00

They are rarely in the UK. It would just sitting there empty. It makes no sense. Also, if Harry and Meghan need a home in Britain, why not buy a home?

Serenster · 08/03/2023 09:21

Novella4 · 08/03/2023 09:14

For the umpteenth time they said they wanted 'control' not privacy

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When they left they said they wanted to remove the “public interest” justification for coverage of them. You can only do that if you keep your activities private.

Harry also said he wanted to step away into a more peaceful life.

Roussette · 08/03/2023 09:22

Serenster · 08/03/2023 09:18

What we were told was that they paid back the 2.4M for renovations and 1yr advance on the commercial price rent. So, they paid more than the 2.4M some seem to believe

Not true. The accounts showed that they made a lump sum payment of £2.4m which was treated as rental for two years at a market rate, and then the remaining balance was treated as repayment.

So they haven’t repaid the money that was spent on their decoration of the house plus rent. They have paid rent plus some of the costs of decorating.

So they still owe money to the Crown, but luckily for them I doubt they’ll be chased for it (rules are different when you’re rich…).

So having paid back £2.4M, are you saying they haven't paid enough back and they should be paying back more?

Jeez....

RudsyFarmer · 08/03/2023 09:23

They want control and privacy!!!! Just let these poor people retreat from public life like it’s so obvious they want to. This thread alone is probably causing them upset somewhere.

BellePeppa · 08/03/2023 09:26

adrianmolesmole · 07/03/2023 19:47

Most royal residences are just sitting around empty most of the time too. You could complain about that..

True, they could buy a home but it's pretty mean of Charles to take away the one safe and secure property his son had in this country, to do that to his own flesh and blood, including grandchildren, that he'd paid up for. Extremely mean, actually. They deserve to be reimbursed for the work they put into it at least.

Harry is not being nice to his own flesh and blood either. Personally I think it would be better all round if they never set foot in the U.K. again anyway. They’re dullards who just keep repeating themselves. Could you imagine working with someone like that, coming in everyday complaining about how terrible they’ve got it while you know they’re on the highest salary there and live in a huge house with staff? You’d rightly think they were an obnoxious prick.

IcedPurple · 08/03/2023 09:28

Novella4 · 08/03/2023 09:04

@smilesy

I don't support Harry exactly but I do cheer each time he lands another blow

Yes the majority of republicans put all 'royals' in the same category.
I'm in the group that thinks Harry telling some truths ( many more still hidden) helps our cause

Unfortunately for Harry, those 'blows' are mostly raining down on this own head.

His popularity is dropping like a stone. And it's all self inflicted.

Serenster · 08/03/2023 09:29

Roussette · 08/03/2023 09:22

So having paid back £2.4M, are you saying they haven't paid enough back and they should be paying back more?

Jeez....

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Would be nice if they were treated like any other tenant who absolutely would be expected to pay rent plus pay for their own decorations of the property.

I am helping a charity at the moment who is moving premises. They were renting from another charity. How much they have to pay to redecorate the premises and fix some building issues so the premises are in a satisfactory condition at the end of the lease is currently being negotiated. Everything they have already paid to improve the premises is irrelevant, they still have to pay this additional money over. The fact that both parties are charities are irrelevant.

This is the real world. Yes, Harry and Meghan should pay what they owe.

Serenster · 08/03/2023 09:31

They deserve to be reimbursed for the work they put into it at least.

Wouldn’t that be nice for every tenant! Not how leases work though. But sure, give the multi-millionaires a financial hand out…

Roussette · 08/03/2023 09:33

Serenster · 08/03/2023 09:29

Would be nice if they were treated like any other tenant who absolutely would be expected to pay rent plus pay for their own decorations of the property.

I am helping a charity at the moment who is moving premises. They were renting from another charity. How much they have to pay to redecorate the premises and fix some building issues so the premises are in a satisfactory condition at the end of the lease is currently being negotiated. Everything they have already paid to improve the premises is irrelevant, they still have to pay this additional money over. The fact that both parties are charities are irrelevant.

This is the real world. Yes, Harry and Meghan should pay what they owe.

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I have no idea what you mean.

They paid back £2.4M. What are you saying they owe? I don't understand your posts sometimes but I've only got a tiny brain

Roussette · 08/03/2023 09:34

Are you saying they left it in a state?

Unliveable in?

I don't think so. Beatrice and husband lived there.

Can you link to where they are supposed to owe over and above the £2.4M they have already paid?

Serenster · 08/03/2023 09:35

They owe £2.4 million plus two years’ rent.

They have only paid £2.4m.

smilesy · 08/03/2023 09:35

Roussette · 08/03/2023 09:00

smilesy should we cut off anyone who supports the Monarchy, is that what you're saying?

My very best friends of nearly 50 years, loves the RF. Doesn't mean to say I can't still be close to her, we just don't talk royalty lol.

No that isn’t what I am saying and with all due respect my post wasn’t addressed to you Roussette. I was wondering why Novella was defending Harry when she has previously stated that the monarchy is a lie and a fantasy, and Harry has no wish to undermine the monarchy as an institution if he still believes in it. I would suggest that he would happily rejoin the Firm if he could do so on his terms and that all his attacks on it are really nothing more than a hissy fit because he didn’t get his own way. Just my opinion 🤷‍♀️

KnickerlessParsons · 08/03/2023 09:35

I think H&M are miffed because H probably needs a U.K. address because of the kind of visa he has, and/or tax reasons.

Samcro · 08/03/2023 09:35

Roussette · 08/03/2023 09:22

So having paid back £2.4M, are you saying they haven't paid enough back and they should be paying back more?

Jeez....

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Thats interesting, so H&M had to pay market rent? so do any other members or the RF including A and his family?

notanotheroneagain · 08/03/2023 09:35

Serenster · 08/03/2023 09:18

What we were told was that they paid back the 2.4M for renovations and 1yr advance on the commercial price rent. So, they paid more than the 2.4M some seem to believe

Not true. The accounts showed that they made a lump sum payment of £2.4m which was treated as rental for two years at a market rate, and then the remaining balance was treated as repayment.

So they haven’t repaid the money that was spent on their decoration of the house plus rent. They have paid rent plus some of the costs of decorating.

So they still owe money to the Crown, but luckily for them I doubt they’ll be chased for it (rules are different when you’re rich…).

It shows right there on your own attachments that they paid back the 2.4M in addition to the commercial rent paid in advance.

In addition to commercial rent paid in the first five months of 2020-
21, a lump sum of f2.4m was received from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in September
2020 to re-imburse the Sovereign Grant for expenditure incurred on the refurbishment of
Frogmore Cottage.

In court papers it was already submitted that what they had and did not have and that they paid for any extras at frogmore.

smilesy · 08/03/2023 09:36

Sorry. Bit late to the party 🤷‍♀️

Roussette · 08/03/2023 09:37

Serenster · 08/03/2023 09:35

They owe £2.4 million plus two years’ rent.

They have only paid £2.4m.

Have you a link for that, so I can digest it properly? I understood they paid the rent up until this Spring or June. I have not seen anything to the contrary.

IF they do owe money, I am sure it will be paid. But I know nothing of this.

notanotheroneagain · 08/03/2023 09:37

Samcro · 08/03/2023 09:35

Thats interesting, so H&M had to pay market rent? so do any other members or the RF including A and his family?

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Andrew pays less than 2K a month.

Roussette · 08/03/2023 09:38

smilesy · 08/03/2023 09:35

No that isn’t what I am saying and with all due respect my post wasn’t addressed to you Roussette. I was wondering why Novella was defending Harry when she has previously stated that the monarchy is a lie and a fantasy, and Harry has no wish to undermine the monarchy as an institution if he still believes in it. I would suggest that he would happily rejoin the Firm if he could do so on his terms and that all his attacks on it are really nothing more than a hissy fit because he didn’t get his own way. Just my opinion 🤷‍♀️

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With all due respect smilesy forums by their nature means people chip in with opinions. It happens to me all the time!

Roussette · 08/03/2023 09:39

notanotheroneagain · 08/03/2023 09:37

Andrew pays less than 2K a month.

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Andrew pays £250 a week!

He wouldn't get a bedsit on top of the Dartford Tunnel for that.

Serenster · 08/03/2023 09:41

You are wilfully misunderstanding my posts I think Roussette.

I was making the point that under any lease the tenant won’t be reimbursed for money they have spent out of their own pocket to decorate the property they rent. You put in a brand new kitchen, the landlord gets the benefit of it when you leave and they don’t have to pay you for it. (That’s the situation the Sussexes appear to be in).

Tenants are also responsible for handing back the property in good condition. You damage it, you need to pay make it good before you leave. You won’t get that money back either. In the case so am talking about, the charity is being told by the landlord that they want the premises fully redecorated before they leave. It’s not damaged, by the way, it’s just not been decorated for a while. The charity won’t get reimbursed for that, and they’ll still have to pay their rent. That is the real world.

Samcro · 08/03/2023 09:43

notanotheroneagain · 08/03/2023 09:37

Andrew pays less than 2K a month.

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so why do H&M have to pay market rates. seems very odd.

Serenster · 08/03/2023 09:43

I’m not going to engage in discussions with people who don’t bother reading my posts, or who don’t understand what the accounts say but persist in arguing they are right, by the way. I have better things to do.

Serenster · 08/03/2023 09:48

Roussette · 08/03/2023 09:39

Andrew pays £250 a week!

He wouldn't get a bedsit on top of the Dartford Tunnel for that.

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Andrew pays that because he paid £1million upfront when he leased The Royal Lodge in 2003. Meghan and Harry were gifted the lease to Frogmore Cottage.

Andrew also has been paying to refurbish the property and is said to have spent around £7m on that since he moved in. (I imagine absolutely no-one is going to argue he should be reimbursed that, though)

purpledalmation · 08/03/2023 09:49

@Samcro You have no idea what they do or don't pay. There are no published records to say what there 'rent' was, what they paid, what Charles subsidised for them, and so in. Harry said on Oprah Charles cut him off without a penny when they left, which is a lie as published crown financial accounts show he paid Harry for a year after they left. If you have a genuine source to show what they paid, what Charles picked up the tab for and all finances around FrogCot then please show them.

Either way it makes far more sense for Andrew to downsize and lose individual security and therefore save the country money.

LillianGish · 08/03/2023 09:51

At this rate William and Kate will have as many houses as Charles - why is anyone surprised at this - they are the future King and Queen? H&M staged lots of photos of themselves moving out of Frog Cott in their Netflix documentary and it looked as if they'd pretty much cleared it out so I'm not clear how they could have gone back to stay there as a family. It makes much more sense for them to stay in rooms at Buckingham Palace if they ever want to pop back (and I'm not convinced they ever will). Andrew needs to downsize so it's logical for him to move up the road. It's pretty clear William and Kate will eventually move into the Windsor Castle, but I can imagine they are quite enjoying playing at living in a normal family house and doing the school run with no staff while they still can. In fact William and Harry are not so far apart as they might like to think - both trying to give their kids a 'normal' upbringing in their own way.