Inside Prince William & Kate's secret rural life in the pink Adelaide Cottage with George, Charlotte

June 2021 · 4 minute read

THE Prince and Princess of Wales have left their swanky Kensington flat behind for an idyllic life in the more peaceful Adelaide Cottage in Windsor.

Prince William and Kate Middleton, both 41, uprooted Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, during the summer of 2022 for a more rural life.

They reportedly spent around a year hunting for a home in Windsor, which would be close to a school that they could all attend together.

They settled on Adelaide Cottage, as first revealed by The Sun, because they believed it needed no major renovations.

With its candyfloss pink exterior and rolling grounds, the royal pad looks straight from a fairytale.

It’s also perfect for the school run, as it’s a nine-mile drive to Ascot where the kids attend the £7,000-a-term Lambrook School.

More on the royals

Here’s a little sneak peek inside their tranquil countryside pad….

Modest size

William and Kate’s charming Adelaide Cottage couldn't be further from their 20-room, four-storey apartment in Kensington, which they still use when they need to be in London.

It has just four bedrooms - one bedroom for each of the children and the royal couple.

Built in 1831, it featured parts of the Prince Regent's Royal Lodge at the time, which was partly demolished and re-used for Princess Adelaide's cottage.

Most read in Royals

The Grade II listed property underwent major renovations in 2015 and has been a grace-and-favour property since 1945.

This means it is owned by the monarch and can be given rent-free as part of an employment package or as a gift.

No live-in staff

It's understood the family have no live-in staff, with any aides commuting to Windsor instead.

This includes the couple's former live-in nanny, Maria Borrallo, who has resided with the couple since George was a baby.

Kate is said to help her kids be independent with getting ready for school, without relying on staff.

A royal source said: “The children are also asked to help to pack their school bags the night before and hang their new uniforms out, before an early night's sleep.

“The number one piece of advice Carole imparted to her eldest was the value of discipline and routine from the start.”

Lots of outdoor space

Sources said the couple dreamt of having a "modest" home with a garden so the children could play outside together - and they seem to have achieved that goal.

Adelaide Cottage is nestled in the heart of the 655-acre Windsor estate so there is plenty of room for the kids to run around and walk the family’s dog, Orla.

We can see from a history painting of the garden that it used to be a botanical paradise.

Low-key interiors

William and Kate’s Windsor life is slightly more modest in comparison to their swanky London adobe.

The couple could have chosen to move into the extravagant Windsor Castle, but instead “downgraded” to the Grade II-listed cottage. 

The property may have been renovated eight years ago, but there are still nods back to the 19th Century inside.

It is said to retain golden dolphins and ceiling rope decorations in the master bedroom, recycled from a 19th-century royal yacht.

It boasts a marble Greco-Egyptian fireplace but is largely relatively modest and low-key.

Closer to family 

Another factor for the house move was thought to be so the family could be closer to the late Queen.

However, she sadly passed away the same month they moved in.

The pad is closer to Kate’s family though, who live in Bucklebury, Berkshire, which is a 45-minute drive away.

Kate’s sister Pippa also lives in a massive property in Berkshire with her husband and three children.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

Pippa and her investment banker husband James Matthews are the proud owners of a lavish £15million Georgian stately home just a 20-minute drive from her parents.

It is thought William and Kate were also keen to get out of the “goldfish bowl” of London to create more privacy for their kids.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTErKynZpOke7a3jqumspmcqHxzgY9vb29xYGS2r7%2FInZxmr5mhuaqtzGaimqyVYsCmr9Geq2akmZuybrzIp6JmmZSauaK1w55knKekqa6osY4%3D