KEYS, PLEASE!

Meghan and Harry's eviction from Frogmore Cottage indicates a new no-nonsense attitude from King Charles towards the couple - and the move has been welcomed by some but greeted with horror by others

- NICI DE WET

WHEN the queen was alive, her word was followed, her instructions obeyed, her indulgences overlooked.

But Her Majesty is gone and the new monarch is a whole different kettle of fish.

Winds of change are blowing through the house of Windsor - and gusts are being felt thousands of kilometres away in sunny California.

King Charles has evicted Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage, the home they were gifted by Queen Elizabeth as a wedding present in 2018.

Banishing his son from the house is one of the sweeping decisions the 74-year-old king has made to "put to bed" the problems plaguing The Firm before his 6 May coronation, palace sources say.

Charles is believed to have given the Sussexes their Frogmore marching orders within 24 hours of the release of Harry's memoir, Spare. The book, which drips with damning revelations about the royal family, is fiercely critical of Charles and Prince William and harsh towards Camilla, queen consort.

"Charles wanted to act decisively and quickly ahead of his coronation," an insider told The Sun. "He feels the situation with the Sussexes has been dragging on for far too long.

Camilla, William and Kate are behind Charles' decision, but other members of the royal family are said to be upset by the move.

"At least two members of the family are appalled, Omid Scobie, the Sussexes' friend, biographer and spokesperson, says.

Those members are believed to be Harry's cousins Beatrice and Eugenie, who are close to Harry. The Sussexes even gave Eugenie the keys to Frogmore so she could use the house as a base in Windsor.

Omid slammed the eviction and says an insider told him, "It all feels very final and like cruel punishment".

"It's like the family wants to cut them out of the picture for good."