Prince Harry's Tiny Dilemma: Duke Gave 2-Word Reply About Royal Home When Preparing to Show Meghan Markle Around

In his memoir Spare, Prince Harry wrote about a "tiny dilemma" he faced when he was still dating Suits actress Meghan Markle in early 2017.

"I was excited to welcome Meg to my home, but also embarrassed. Nott Cott was no palace," HRH wrote when mentioning his Nottingham Cottage pad on the grounds of Kensington Palace, which was his official royal base.

The fiery-haired prince thought it best to tell the experienced Hollywood performer in two words that his royal pad was "palace adjacent" thanks to its close proximity to KP. "Nott Cott was palace adjacent — that was the best you could say for it," he wrote.

Many people tend to think of either Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle when imagining the British royal family, but those historic buildings are only two of a fleet of estates in the royal residential portfolio.

"Nott Cott" dates back to the early 18th century, and was initially built as part of a series of homes for the staff of Kensington Palace. Designed in a quaint, traditional style, it has a cozy and picturesque appearance that has made it a favored residence for various members of the British royal family and their staff over the years.

In recent history, Nottingham Cottage gained prominence when Prince William and Kate Middleton used it as their London residence before their marriage and while awaiting the completion of renovations at Apartment 1A in Kensington Palace. Following their move, Harry and Meghan lived in the cottage until they relocated to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor in 2019, just before the birth of their son, Archie.

One royal expert thinks Harry was likely highlighting how most outsiders tend to think of KP apartments as "standard, American flats with a few rooms," which is far from the case in the palace.

Christopher Warwick, another expert, explained: "All of these royal residences at Kensington Palace are called apartments, which of course makes people immediately think they are flats like the American term for an apartment. They are not. If you kind of think of them as being these wonderful red brick terrace houses. Because they are all joined but separate houses."

But some Sussex spite and envy likely also played into the "Nott Cott" stay for Harry and Meghan.

In his new book, Catherine, the Princess of Wales: A Biography of the Future Queen, author Robert Jobson wrote: "I am not saying Meghan was jealous, but she was surprised how lavishly Harry's brother was living compared to where they were living. Meghan understood, of course, that William was in the direct line of succession, but she felt that Harry, as a royal prince, deserved more than he had."

Daily Express reported on the expert observations.