Why Prince Harry & Meghan Markle Were Forced to Move Out of Oxfordshire Home

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published 16 May 2019

This morning, reported in several outlets, Prince Harry won damages and an apology from Splash News for taking intrusive helicopter photos of their private Oxfordshire home.
The photos apparently showed so much that they actually give detail of what the inside of the house looks like. Meghan and Harry had quietly moved into the home during her pregnancy.
Meghan and Harry had recently moved into Frogmore Cottage earlier this year, and the security for that residence was extremely tight.

This morning, Splash News issued an apology and gave "substantial damages" to Prince Harry for taking helicopter photos of their Oxfordshire home, which were then published online in some news outlets. Reportedly, the pictures were so intrusive that the couple can no longer live in that home. The photos were taken in early January of this year, after Frogmore Cottage had started to undergo renovations. Damages that Harry and Meghan Markle have won will reportedly go to charity.

The royals' lawyer said, "The property had been chosen by the Duke for himself and his wife given the high level of privacy it afforded, given its position in a secluded area surrounded by private farmland away from any areas to which photographers have access."

This doesn't look like Adelaide Cottage, the Windsor cottage that Queen Elizabeth may have gifted to Harry and Meghan for their wedding, or Frogmore Cottage, which is Meghan and Harry's primary residence in Windsor. So this is a separate, private residence; For context, Oxfordshire is about 45 minutes away from Frogmore, in the countryside.

Royal reporter Omid Scobie elaborated, based on an explanation from the royals' lawyer, that the couple could no longer live at that house because of just how intrusive the photos were. Think: A look at the actual rooms inside the house:

His lawyer said photos showing inside Harry and Meghan’s living room, dining area and bedroom undermined the couple’s safety and security “to the extent that they are no longer able to live at the property.”A palace rep says Harry “acknowledges and welcomes the formal apology.”May 16, 2019

It also seems like Meghan and Harry had quietly moved in, according to lawyers for the case, who told the judge that the couple were forced to move out, according to The Guardian.

As much as I would love to be a fly on the wall to see the gorgeous designs of the royal family's private homes, it makes sense that some things just have to remain private, for privacy and security's sake.

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Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.

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