New Details About Kate And William's Reported Move To Windsor Have Been Revealed
Prince William and Kate Middleton — who have been opening up about family more recently — will be getting a change in scenery this summer, as multiple outlets have reported. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have lived in Kensington Palace since 2017 (per Berkshire Live News). However, with Prince William's 40th birthday coming up — a milestone he jokingly said was "so daunting," according to the Sunday Times — the family is reportedly making the move to Windsor. William, Kate, and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, will apparently be starting a new chapter in the coming months.
While the family will evidently continue to make visits to Kensington Palace and their previous Norfolk home, Anmer Hall, the children will reportedly attend a Berkshire school in the fall, according to the Daily Mail. It's apparently an ideal move for the young family, with a reported "friend of William's" sharing that "They are quite confined in what they can do in London ... The kids can't go into the park and kick a football with friends." Now, the family will be able to enjoy some quiet time with other relatives on the Windsor Estate, at least until Prince William takes control of the monarchy one day in his future role as king.
Kate and William will be closer to family
In Windsor, Kate Middleton, Prince William, and their children will be much closer to the Duchess of Cambridge's parents, who live in Bucklebury (per the Mirror). This means the family will be less than an hour's drive from the children's maternal grandparents. It's also reported that the Duke and Duchess could eventually move into Windsor Castle itself, where Queen Elizabeth II has spent most of her time since Prince Philip's death (via Honey). It's been thought that the couple would choose Adelaide Cottage as their new residence, according to the Sun, which is a quick 10-minute walk from the queen at Windsor Castle.
The move to the Berkshire countryside will mean a new school for Prince George and Princess Charlotte — the two will be leaving their London private school, Thomas's Battersea (per Tatler). Prince Louis will also be starting school near Windsor in the fall. However, according to an insider, the couple hopes to make their Norfolk home of Anmer Hall their main residence "after the school years," (via Tatler). The family apparently "absolutely love it up there — it's their happy place."
The Duke and Duchess reportedly prefer the countryside
Kate Middleton and Prince William have previously offered insight into their disposition towards living a quieter life in the countryside. In an Apple Fitness+ special, "Time To Walk," William shared how he prefers to spend time out of the city. "We spend as much time as we can here, it's very peaceful," he said of the family's Norfolk home, Anmer Hall, according to Hello! Magazine. In previous years, William, Kate, and their children have reportedly spent their holiday seasons at Anmer Hall, with People dubbing it the couple's "home away from home."
It makes sense for William to reportedly love the quiet countryside. As an advocate for mental health, having the ability to slow down and appreciate the small things in life — family, nature, and quality time — most likely have a special place in his heart. In a Forbes review of William's "Time To Walk" episode, David Phelan noted how genuine the duke sounded in his advocacy for talking about feelings and taking care of oneself. It seems that moving to Windsor will be in tandem with the family's values.
What you need to know about Adelaide Cottage
The couple and their three children are reportedly moving into a four bedroom Windsor Estate property called Adelaide Cottage in Berkshire, the Sunday Times reports. The move will mean that Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their kids — Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis — will be closer to Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle. However, though their new home is dubbed a "cottage," it is still fit for the royal family. A beautiful, large white historic house, Adelaide Cottage has been the setting for many historical scenes and scandals.
The cottage is named for Queen Adelaide, the wife of King William IV. The cottage was built in 1831, according to Cosmopolitan. Adelaide Cottage gained prominence when it was rumored to have been a prominent setting for Princess Margaret's affair with Captain Peter Townsend, according to The U.S. Sun. More recently, the cottage gained media attention when it was rumored that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would possibly move there in 2018, according to Harper's Bazaar. Now, the property is falling to Kate and William instead.