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Prince Harry recalls feeling 'embarrassed' when he showed Meghan Markle his modest previous home.
Prior to moving into their magnificent $29 million estate in Montecito, Prince Harry's living circumstances was far from the splendor one would expect of a royal.
In his 2023 memoir Spare, the Duke of Sussex told up about the modest two-bedroom house he formerly resided in, Nottingham Cottage, lovingly known as "Nott Cott."
Tucked away on the grounds of Kensington Palace, the tiny cottage served as a significant background to his early connection with Meghan Markle.
"I was thrilled to welcome Meg into my house, but also humiliated. Nott Cott wasn't a palace. The best you could say for Nott Cott was that it was near to the palace," he wrote.
Harry described the furnishings with a combination of humor and humility, mentioning the "dolls' house low" ceilings and recounting Meghan's cheeky remark comparing the property to a "frat house."
The Duchess of Sussex may have been taken away by Prince Harry's bachelor décor, particularly the beanbag chair that matched his brown sofa, but the couple's home design has evolved significantly from their early days at Nottingham Cottage.
After Meghan moved in, the couple improved their basic London hideout with fresh lighting and even a second-hand sofa. However, they are no longer living in royal servant quarters or on used sofas.
Since moving to the United States in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have settled in Montecito, California, a peaceful neighborhood noted for its sweeping coastal vistas and famous neighbors.
Their magnificent house, hidden behind a lengthy private road and towering security gates, sold for $14.65 million.
Only a few years later, its worth has allegedly risen to $29 million.
In an interview with The Cut, Meghan describes falling in love with the house at first sight. "We did everything we could to get this house," she told me.
"Because you come in and go..." Joy. And exhale. And be calm. It is healing. "You feel liberated."
