Prince William and Kate Middleton have a new royal residence near Windsor Castle: Adelaide Cottage, a charming, historic home. This morning, as the couple confirms the family’s move out of London, let’s take a closer look at the property.
Adelaide Cottage is located on the grounds of Windsor Home Park, close to St. George’s Chapel, and roughly 25 miles from central London.
Adelaide Cottage was originally built for Queen Adelaide, the wife of King William IV, in 1831, using building materials from the Royal Lodge, according to the Royal Collection. The royal retreat has been used by a number of monarchs: Queen Victoria often visited the cottage for breakfast or tea. Another famous resident was Peter Townsend, who famously had a love affair with Princess Margaret.
The cottage underwent a renovation in 2015 and, at one point had elaborate decorations, according to reports. The master bedroom at the cottage at one point reportedly had a ceiling covered with gilded dolphins and a rope decoration, which is originally from a royal yacht from the 19th century. It also has a marble Graeco-Egyptian fireplace.
While the Cambridges will be moving into a new home this fall, they are not giving up their other two residences; Apartment 1a at Kensington Palace will remain the family’s London home and they are also keeping Anmer Hall in Norfolk.
Per reporter Victoria Murphy, “the move, which a Palace source said has been driven by their desire to have as normal a family life as possible, allows William and Kate the opportunity to offer their children a more rural upbringing away from central London and the hustle and bustle of Kensington Palace, which is a popular tourist attraction.”