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Harry and Meghan hold hands as they break cover after leaving Frogmore Cottage

03 July 2023 , 10:17
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Harry and Meghan hold hands as they break cover after leaving Frogmore Cottage
Harry and Meghan hold hands as they break cover after leaving Frogmore Cottage

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle held hands as they broke cover for the first time after it emerged they have finally handed over the keys for Frogmore Cottage.

The couple were spotted laughing and smiling as they left an office building in Santa Barbara, California, not far from their home in Montecito.

It's unclear why the pair were visiting the building, which is said to house several businesses, including a pilates studio and an organisation that promotes yoga and Himalayan meditation.

It is the first time the couple has been seen together since it emerged last week that they had officially vacated their UK home Frogmore Cottage, which is on the Windsor estate, after being asked to leave earlier this year.

Harry and Meghan hold hands as they break cover after leaving Frogmore Cottage qhiukiuiqkrprwPrince Harry and Meghan Markle pictured on a different outing in 2019 (Getty Images)

In pictures of the couple published by MailOnline, they can be seen leaving the office building and walking to their car as Meghan beams.

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She looked glamorous in a crisp white shirt, dark brown shorts from Reformation and flat Hermes sandals. She completed her look with a huge straw hat and large sunglasses.

Harry was equally casual, wearing dark blue jeans, a polo shirt, trainers and a baseball cap.

The news that the Sussexes had finally left Frogmore Cottage was confirmed last week by Buckingham Palace.

Harry and Meghan hold hands as they break cover after leaving Frogmore CottageHarry and Meghan were gifted Frogmore Cottage by the late Queen (Getty Images)

Harry and Meghan were asked to move any remaining possessions out of their UK home close to Windsor Castle just weeks after the duke criticised his family in his controversial memoir Spare.

The cottage, which was refurbished by the couple and is a Crown Estate property, was their last remaining foothold in the UK.

At the annual Sovereign Grant account briefing on royal finances, Sir Michael Stevens, Keeper of the Privy Purse, said: "We can confirm that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have vacated Frogmore Cottage.

Harry and Meghan hold hands as they break cover after leaving Frogmore CottageThe couple's former UK home Frogmore Cottage (Daily Mirror)

"We will not be going into any detail on those arrangements here.

"Safe to say that, as has previously been stated, the duke and duchess have paid for the expenditure incurred by the Sovereign Grant in relation to the renovation of Frogmore Cottage, thus leaving the Crown with a greatly enhanced asset."

Harry and Meghan moved to the US in 2020 after stepping down from the working monarchy.

Grade-II listed Frogmore was a gift to the couple from Harry's grandmother, the late Queen.

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In 2019, royal accounts showed Meghan and Harry paid £2.4 million to cover the refurbishment and rental of Frogmore Cottage on the Home Park Estate, a property they have only used a handful of times since relocating to the US.

A palace official said there was nothing to add in relation to who would live in the cottage in the future.

"I have nothing to add," the official said. "Any future occupancy will be determined and communicated in next year's report."

The Palace refused to be drawn on whether the King's disgraced brother the Duke of York, would be leaving his Royal Lodge home in Windsor Great Park. It has been reported that Andrew had been offered Frogmore Cottage instead.

Jennifer Newton

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