Says one pal, "He likes having his friends around him — and there is a [shooting ground] outside his doorstep"
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry‘s new home will need plenty of guest rooms!
The couple have officially traded in their two-bedroom home at Kensington Palace’s Nottingham Cottage in London for a country escape: Frogmore Cottage in Windsor Castle. While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will soon have a permanent new resident – their son or daughter, arriving in the coming weeks! – they hope to have plenty of guests stopping by to enjoy their new digs 25 miles west of London.
Insiders say the couple have been busy overseeing last-minute touches, including bookcases built into alcoves. There’s also a custom kitchen and dining room, where Harry plans to “do some entertaining,” including hunting parties.
Says one pal, “He likes having his friends around him — and there is a [shooting ground] outside his doorstep.”
As for reports that Meghan is opposed to hunting and has asked her husband to stop? “She doesn’t tell him what to do,” scoffs a source.
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Meghan, 37, is a well-known animal lover, from her rescue pups Bogart and Guy to being vocal about her love for vegan leather. However, yet all of the royal family members enjoy the country life — and during the Christmas season that means picking up a shotgun and taking part in the Boxing Day shoot on Queen Elizabeth‘s Sandringham estate.
Both Prince William and Kate Middleton are known to take part in the festive shoot and even host shooting parties of their own at their country home, Anmer Hall.
In addition to the royal family, Meghan and Harry’s home will be hosting plenty of the Duchess of Sussex’s friends when the baby arrives. They already celebrated Meghan’s pregnancy with a baby shower in New York City, and guests included Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, Gayle King, Jessica Mulroney, Misha Nonoo and Abigail Spencer.
Meghan’s longtime friend and wedding makeup artist, Daniel Martin, told PEOPLE: “The next plan is all of us being there for both of them when the baby comes. That baby is going to be loved by all of us.”
Veteran royals biographer Ingrid Seward previously told PEOPLE that Frogmore Cottage was “pretty dilapidated” and in need of serious renovations ahead of the move. In fact, it had to be transformed from a staff residence once set up as multiple apartments into a single-family home of about five bedrooms.
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A royal source previously told PEOPLE that Windsor “has more space for children” and “has a special place in their hearts.” After all, it’s where Harry and Meghan snapped their engagement portraits and subsequently celebrated their nighttime wedding reception in May.