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Prince Harry's first marital home Nottingham Cottage – past royal residents revealed

The Duke of Sussex is currently isolating in the empty property

Ainhoa Barcelona
Content Managing Editor
Updated: April 12, 2021
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The Duke of Sussex has returned to the UK ahead of the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral on Saturday 17 April, and he is isolating at Frogmore Cottage on the Queen's Windsor estate.

MORE: Why Prince Harry chose to self-isolate next to Prince William

But before moving into the property shortly before Archie Harrison was born in 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle lived at Nottingham Cottage in Kensington Palace – which is next door to Prince William and Kate Middleton's home, Apartment 1A.

Known as Nott Cott, it likely holds many fond memories for Prince Harry; not only was it his first home with Meghan, it was also where Harry proposed while the couple were making a roast chicken. 

The property is currently empty, but we've taken a look back at who used to live there.

WATCH: Inside stunning homes where the royal family live

Harry had lived in the cottage since 2013, transforming it into his own bachelor pad. When Meghan moved in in 2017, she added her own personal touches to the house, favouring décor from Soho Home's Country House collection.

kensington palace aerial shot© Photo: Getty Images

Nottingham Cottage is one of the smaller properties on the Kensington Palace estate

One of the smaller properties on the Kensington Palace estate, it has two bedrooms and reception rooms as well as a kitchen, bathroom and small garden. Harry was said to have put up a hammock in his back garden when he moved in.

PHOTOS: 21 mind-blowing royal homes REVEALED: Prince William, Princess Beatrice, more

The Christopher Wren-designed cottage has been home to royals and non-royals long before the Sussexes, including Prince William and Kate who lived there for a brief stint in 2013 with their newborn son Prince George, while their mansion Apartment 1A was being renovated.

kate and will hospital© Photo: Getty Images

William and Kate lived at Nottingham Cottage with Prince George

Nottingham Cottage was also home to Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and his wife, Princess Alice. Later occupants included the Queen's private secretary Robert Fellowes and his wife Lady Jane Fellowes, Princess Diana's sister, as well as Prince Philip's private secretary Sir Miles Hunt-Davis and his wife Anita.

SEE: Spectacular royal home hallways: Kate Middleton, Prince Charles, more

marion crawford nanny© Photo: Getty Images

Former governess Marion Crawford used to live at the cottage

The cottage was originally a grace-and-favour property for the Queen and Princess Margaret's childhood governess, Marion Crawford.

Crawfie, as she was known, was given the house for life upon her retirement in 1948, but after she sold stories about the royal family to the press, Marion was dismissed. She was completely ostracised from royal circles and the Queen never spoke to her beloved former nanny again.

READ: 8 plushest royal sofas: from Princess Eugenie to Prince William

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