Meghan and Harry Spent 2.4 million Pounds of Taxpayers' Money on New Home

Meghan and Harry, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, spent 2.4 million Pounds about 3 million Dollars of the British taxpayer' money on renovation to their new home, according to the Royal Household's latest annual financial statement.
The couple's official residence, Frogmore Cottage, which is nestled in a corner of the Windsor Estate, west of London, has undergone extensive structural changes to bring five small dormitory-style units into a single home with modern amenities for their growing family.

Meghan and Harry moved into the Grade ll - listed building just before the arrival of their baby son Archie in May.

Works include the removal of chimney, re-finishing the roof, new stairs-cases, fireplace installations and a new floating modern floor, were detailed in planing application documents to the local council. British tabloid newspapers has speculated that the sprung flooring may be for a mother and baby yoga room, but Buckingham Palace has said those reports are false.

According to the palace the only "floating" floor in the cottage was in the main kitchen area and was required by planners to temporarily protect the old flooring underneath during construction.

The Sovereign Grant, which pays for salaries of the Queen's staff, upkeep of palaces and official royal duties, including travel, footed the bill for the renovations.

The cost of all fittings, fixtures and furnishings were paid privately by the Duke and Duchess.

Accounts for the Sovereign Grant which were just released publicly, reveal that the monarchy cost the taxpayers 67 million Pounds about 85.3 million Dollars in 2018-19, up 41% from the previous financial year.

The anti-monarchy group Republic has called the rise in royal spending "Outrageous", citing the Frogmore Cottage renovations and travel costs for Prince Charles, among other expenses.

According to Graham Smith, head of Republic statement "This year's increases are outrageous at a time of whispered spending cuts. But this is just one detail in a litany of scandal,"

"If even one school or hospital is facing cuts we cannot justify spending a penny on the royals. yet with all public services  under intense financial pressure we throw 2.4 million Pounds at a new house of Harry. This is corruption is being hidden in plain sights."