Prince William and Kate May Soon Swap Adelaide Cottage for a Royal Home With Dark Legacy
Prince William and Kate Middleton currently call Adelaide Cottage their home, a deliberate retreat from the spotlight. In 2022, the Waleses traded their London residence at Kensington Palace for the intimate four-bedroom house nestled within Windsor Castle's grounds. The couple's choice of Adelaide Cottage was strategically driven by two essential factors: privacy and proximity to their children's school. The modest quarters effectively shield the family from paparazzi intrusion while allowing Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis to enjoy a normal school commute to nearby Lambrook School, with no elaborate security convoys.
The house was initially considered modest by royal standards because it didn't have space for household staff. But William and Middleton wanted precisely that, a chance to raise their children without outside help always around. Royal expert Ingrid Seward explained their reasoning to The Sun back in 2022. She explained, "Kensington Palace is a glorious prison for kids; they want to be able to play football without being watched from behind the gates... I think Windsor will be perfect for them, as they will have lots of freedom and they can all be at school together."
Adelaide Cottage also gave them the precious time to grieve without the press scrutiny after Queen Elizabeth's death in 2022. Similarly, a place to heal when Middleton was diagnosed with cancer last year. Now, according to The Daily Mail, the Wales family is ready for their next move. They're reportedly looking at Fort Belvedere, a much grander property also located in Windsor Great Park. This gothic-revival mansion sits on 59 acres and offers everything a growing royal family could want.
The estate boasts an outdoor swimming pool and tennis court—features that have particularly caught the attention of Middleton and Charlotte, who are known to love tennis and are regulars at Wimbledon. Beyond these amenities, Fort Belvedere includes stunning gardens, a greenhouse, horse stables, two lakes, and separate cottages for staff members. The main house itself has eight bedrooms, doubling their current living space.
Commenting on the move, a source close to the family told The Mail that the timing feels right for this upgrade. "They feel they have outgrown Adelaide Cottage and need somewhere more substantial," they explained, adding that the move appears 'imminent' due to their growing needs. "This is the perfect new home for them. It has a swimming pool and tennis court, and Charlotte loves playing tennis."
However, Fort Belvedere carries significant historical baggage that makes it an interesting choice for the heir apparent. The mansion was once home to Edward VIII, the uncle of the late Queen, who shocked the world when he gave up his throne in 1936 to marry American divorcée Wallis Simpson. His abdication created one of the biggest scandals in modern royal history. The parallels to recent royal drama aren't hard to spot—Edward VIII's choice to leave royal duty for love mirrors, in some ways, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to step back from their senior roles and move to the US.