Buckingham Palace has responded to reports that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex issued strict guidelines to their neighbours which reportedly included ‘do’s and don’ts’ of how to interact with the royal couple.
The report, originally published by The Sun, claimed a representative of Meghan and Harry’s attended a local residents’ meeting where residents living near Frogmore Cottage were given a list of guidelines which included: do not approach or instigate conversation with the couple; don’t pet or stroke their dogs; don’t post anything through the letterbox of Frogmore Cottage.
The Sun also reported the rules included some rather odd additions such as: “Do say ‘Good morning’ or some other pleasantry if they speak to you.
“Don’t offer to walk their dogs. Don’t ask to see baby Archie or offer to babysit.”
Buckingham Palace are cracking down on rumours that the Sussexes have issued rules to their neighbours regarding how to interact with them. (Image: Getty)
In a rare move Buckingham Palace have since responded to the reports saying Meghan and Harry had no knowledge of the guidelines and that they had been undertaken by “well-intentioned” member of estate staff The Daily Mail reports.
“The Duke and Duchess had no knowledge of this briefing and no involvement in the concept or the content,” a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said.
“This was a well-intentioned briefing to help a small local community know how to welcome two new residents and help them with any potential encounter.
“There was no handout or letter. The talk was undertaken by a local manager and was widely viewed as being well-received.”
According to a royal source who spoke to The Daily Mail the meeting was held in February, two months before the royal couple had moved to Frogmore Cottage and three months before Archie was born.
Adding: “Their Royal Highnesses did not issue the guidance and didn’t ask for it to be done – they simply had nothing to do with this and didn’t even know it had happened.
“As it is they love people to stroke their dogs.”
Meghan and Harry’s home Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor Estate. (Image: Shutterstock)
Meghan and Harry moved into their Frogmore Cottage home on the Windsor Estate in April after months of extensive renovations which according to a financial report released in June cost around £2.4 million (NZD $4.6 million).
According to palace sources who spoke to Town & Country Magazine, the major work undertaken included the removal and replacement of defective ceiling beams and floor joists as well as the replacement of a heating system that was “outdated and inefficient” and not up to modern environmental standards.
While work on the house is now complete the couple are currently working on the external landscape of the garden surrounding Frogmore Cottage which is said to include a kitchen garden.
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The couple’s move from their home at Kensington Palace to Windsor came just in time to settle in before welcoming Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor on May 6th, and since then it’s provided the perfect private location for the family.
Meghan is currently on maternity leave but is due to head back to her royal duties in the British autumn, likely just in time for her, Harry and Archie to undertake their royal tour to southern Africa later this year.
The royal tour, which was confirmed in late June, will see the family-of-three travel to South Africa, with Prince Harry making quick visits to the neighbouring countries of Malawi, Botswana and Angola.
