Meghan Markle’s Royal Reality: From Palace Dreams to Cottage Life

In a revealing look at her early days as a member of the British royal family, Meghan Markle has opened up about her feelings of isolation after marrying Prince Harry.

Reports suggest that the Duchess of Sussex was less than thrilled when she learned they would be residing in Nottingham Cottage rather than the more glamorous Kensington Palace.

In the couple's Netflix documentary series, they candidly shared their thoughts about their first home together.

Harry reflected on the stark contrast between their expectations and reality, stating, “For people, we were living in a palace.” Meghan chimed in, acknowledging the regal appearance of Kensington Palace but lamenting the limited space of their cottage, which she described as “too small.”

Royal expert Tom Quinn weighed in on the situation, suggesting that Meghan felt somewhat outcast by the decision to move into the modest two-bedroom home located within the grounds of Kensington Palace.

He pointed out that her initial attraction to the royal lifestyle may have led to disappointment upon realizing they would be living in a cottage rather than a grand palace.

Quinn elaborated during a recent episode of the Mirror's Pod Save the Queen podcast, saying, “I think she actually wasn't too keen on it.

Apparently, they were moved to a little prefab in the grounds.” His comments highlight the challenges Meghan faced during this transition period.

However, not everyone agrees with Quinn's assessment.

Royal writer Omid Scobie offered a different perspective, claiming that Meghan was actually excited about living in Nottingham Cottage.

In his book, Finding Freedom, he wrote that after months of long-distance dating, Meghan was thrilled to finally share a postcode with Harry, describing her as someone who could “thrive where she was planted.”

Scobie emphasized that Meghan didn't relocate to London simply to take on a new job; she was eager to embark on a new life alongside Harry.

This sense of anticipation likely colored her experience of settling into their new home, despite its size.

The couple invested significantly in their residence, spending £2.4 million on renovations to the Crown Estate-owned property in 2018 and 2019.

Initially, the cost was covered by taxpayers through the Sovereign Grant, but Harry later reimbursed the amount in full.