Adelaide Cottage, Windsor: Prince William and Kate Middleton's new home in the Berkshire countryside

Adelaide Cottage in Windsor might not be the most well-known royal residence, but it is the place the Cambridge family now call home. 

• The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made the move to Berkshire to reside in Windsor's Adelaide Cottage. 
• Adelaide Cottage, Windsor was always thought to be at the top of their house-hunting list, with the family choosing the modest four-bedroom house in order to be near the Queen, making the move just weeks before her death.
• As part of their plan to be able to support the Queen, who was suffering with ongoing mobility struggles in the lead up to her death, the Cambridges swapped Kensington Palace in London for Adelaide Cottage. 

As the future King and Queen Consort, it’s perhaps no surprise that Prince William and Kate Middleton have several properties. For the majority of their family life, they have split their time between Kensington Palace and Anmer Hall in Norfolk, which is close by to Sandringham House. 

However, Prince William, Kate and their children have left London behind them for now. The Cambridges will be settling in Berkshire at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, having made the move in order to be nearby to Her Majesty the Queen, prior to her death on September 8th 2022. 

Kate and William made the decision to move Prince George and Princess Charlotte away from Thomas's Battersea school in London, with the eldest two Cambridge kids beginning at Lambrook School in Berkshire, along with little Prince Louis.

It was confirmed that that the Cambridge children would start at Lambrook, which is a private institution costing up to £6,999 per term, following the move to Adelaide Cottage and the stepped out together for the children's first day.

We reveal what you need to know about Prince William and Kate Middleton’s new home…

Where is Adelaide Cottage, Windsor? 

Located on the eastern side of the Windsor Castle grounds, Adelaide Cottage is in Windsor Home Park, in Berkshire. This private royal park is looked after by the Crown Estate and Adelaide Cottage is very close to St George's Chapel where Prince Philip's funeral was held in 2021 and where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding ceremony and that of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank took place. 

It's understood that Adelaide Cottage is just a 10 minute walk away from Windsor Castle itself. This historic home is where the Queen has spent much of her time over the past few years. 

The monarch made it her official residence earlier this year, moving from Buckingham Palace in London to Windsor permanently, prompting the Cambridges to follow shortly after, in the hopes they would be able to support her in the final years of her reign. 

During the Cambridges' move to Adelaide, the Queen was spending her summer break at Balmoral Castle. It was here that the monarch died aged 96. 

When was Adelaide Cottage built?

Just like the other royal residences fans are so intrigued by, from Buckingham Palace to Balmoral Castle, Adelaide Cottage also has a rich history. It was built in 1831 and was commissioned by King William IV for his wife Queen Adelaide, whom the four-bedroom cottage was named after. Since the days when they would enjoy relaxing day trips there, Queen Victoria also reportedly often visited this peaceful cottage which was apparently once called Adelaide Lodge. 

It’s been suggested that the Queen’s great-great-grandmother would often have tea and breakfast there. According to the Royal Collection Trust (opens in new tab), it was built by architect and garden designer Jeffry Wyatville and incorporated building material from the nearby Royal Lodge too. 

Today the property is said to be a Grade II-listed building which means that it’s considered to have great historical or architectural significance and is accordingly protected by the law. Though Adelaide Cottage, Windsor supposedly underwent major renovations back in 2015, with Town&Country (opens in new tab) reporting that the residence is said to boast some rather elaborate decorative elements inside. 

These reportedly include gilded dolphins and rope decoration on the ceiling of the master bedroom, which is said to have been recycled from an 19th century royal yacht. Adelaide Cottage is even believed to have a marble Graeco-Egyptian fireplace adding another sumptuous and historic aspect to the décor. 

Who owns Adelaide Cottage?

Adelaide Cottage in Windsor is understood to be a grace-and-favor property which would mean that it would have belonged to the Queen because of her position as the monarch. Her Majesty was able to lease it rent-free to other people, either as part of some kind of employment package, or due to gratitude for services to her. 

However, she didn't privately own Adelaide Cottage like she did Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle. It is expected that these residences will be passed on to members of The Firm now that she has passed away.

Who lives at Adelaide Cottage now?

Adelaide Cottage is now home to Prince William and Kate Middleton, as well as their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, plus the Cambridge family dog, Orla. 

It is believed that the lowkey cottage is a far cry from Kensington Palace, with the four-bedroom home reportedly leaving no room for live in staff, unlike Apartment 1A at Kensington, which boasts 20 rooms. 

The Cambridges are still expected to spend school breaks at Amner Hall in Norfolk and travel back to Kensington Palace when they are working in London. 

"Their Royal Highnesses are hugely grateful to Thomas's Battersea where George and Charlotte have had a happy start to their education since 2017 and 2019 respectively and are pleased to have found a school for all three of their children which shares a similar ethos and values to Thomas's," the statement said, confirming the news that George and Charlotte would no longer be educated in London. 

Speaking on the family's decision to move to Adelaide, a source recently told The Times (opens in new tab), "The reality is 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. Their plan is to be there for the next ten to 15 years and then move to Anmer, which is so special to them."

The Duchess also grew up in Bucklebury village in Berkshire and although it’s been claimed Carole Middleton visited them in her land rover at Kensington Palace regularly, Adelaide Cottage is also very conveniently located for Middleton family visits. 

Who used to live at Adelaide Cottage?

Though Prince William and Kate Middleton are set to be Adelaide Cottage's next permanent residents, this royal residence has had its fair share of prominent residents since it was first built. Perhaps the most notable in recent years was Group Captain Peter Townsend, who will likely be a familiar name to not only royal fans but avid watchers of Netflix hit, The Crown. As equerry to King George VI, the Queen’s father, Peter reportedly lived there with his wife from 1944.

The couple divorced in 1952 and the world was left astounded when the news broke that Peter and the Queen's late sister Princess Margaret were in a romantic relationship with one another. The couple never went on to marry - as all The Crown and royal fans alike will know - and he later moved out of this beautiful property after his divorce.

Years later in 2018 rumors began to circulate that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were going to make Adelaide Cottage their home. However, at the time someone else with a strong royal connection was supposedly already living there. 

Simon Rhodes, the son of the late Margaret Rhodes, the Queen’s first cousin and a Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen Mother, is said to have previously resided at the cottage.

Of course, the residence also remained a popular choice, if not permanent home, for visits from King William and Queen Adelaide when it was first built. So much so, that the late Queen supposedly had her beloved pet spaniel, Dash, buried in its grounds.

Despite the speculation that once surrounded the idea of a Sussex move, Prince Harry and Meghan never went on to make Adelaide Cottage, Windsor either their part-time or full-time residence. Instead, Frogmore Cottage remains their official UK base and is also located on the Windsor Estate, meaning Prince Harry and Meghan will be neighbours of Prince William and Kate in a sense after their Berkshire move.

Although it's not known when the Cambridges will be settled into Adelaide Cottage, Windsor, there'll no doubt be many fans hoping for a sneak peek of their new home in any social media posts or special new family portraits in the future.