Frogmore Cottage, the former residence of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, contrasts sharply with their current Montecito lifestyle with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
While the Sussexes lived in one of the more modest royal properties, there was another charming cottage on the estate that has largely gone unnoticed by royal enthusiasts.
The expansive land in Windsor Park was once home to The Hermitage, a quaint countryside retreat designed by Princess Elizabeth, the third daughter of George III, who passed away in 1840.
The Royal Collection Trust has shared details about The Hermitage, which is depicted in a beautiful watercolor by Samuel Howitt.
According to the artist, the property was “built in 1775 at a cost of £44,000,” and the artwork was later acquired by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The Royal Collection Trust also noted that a contemporary description from 1823 described the interior as being “lined with moss and furnished with simple necessities – wooden utensils, rudimentary seats, and a rough table covered with excellent imitations of fruit, while a picture of a venerable hermit adorned one corner.”