Who lives in Adelaide Cottage Windsor and where is it?
IF you follow the Royal family, the name Adelaide Cottage will already be very familiar to you.
Many people have lived there over the years, but now Kate Middleton, Prince William and their three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis call it home after they relocated from their London base of Kensington Palace.
Who lives at Adelaide Cottage?
Prince William and Kate Middleton moved to the Windsor property on the the late Queen’s estate alongside their three children in the summer of 2022.
According to reports, the Royal couple chose to settle in the residency so that the Princes and Princess can attend school there together, and aim to give their children the most normal upbringing they can.
At the time, it was a gift from the Queen, who had sole decision over who resided there.
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Where is Adelaide Cottage in Windsor?
The cottage is nestled in Home Park in Windsor, just a 10-minute walk from Windsor Castle.
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.
It is part of the Crown Estate’s private 655-acre royal park.
The Grade II listed property underwent major renovations in 2015 and has been a grace-and-favour property since 1945.
A grace-and-favour property is a residence belonging to the monarch due to their position and can be gifted to others as part of an employment package or out of gratitude.
The outside of the property is picturesque, the master bedroom boasts a coved ceiling with gilded dolphins and rope ornament reused from the yacht Royal George.
It also has a slate roof, a marble Graeco-Egyptian fireplace and the south entrance is flanked by two diagonally set chimneys.
How big is Adelaide Cottage?
The picturesque cottage has been described as perfect for a family of five.
That’s because it has four bedrooms – one for each of the children and the Royal couple.
The property also features two parts – the main Adelaide Cottage but also Adelaide Lodge.
Many Royal experts have described it as one of the most “aesthetically pleasing” residences that make up the royal estate.
The New York post reported that the property’s original porch is still untouched today. The same can be said for the surrounding gardens.
However, naturally over the years, it’s acquired more modern features from a gravel driveway to a gatehouse.
Did Prince Harry and Meghan Markle live at Adelaide Cottage?
The Mail On Sunday reported that Harry and Meghan had been for a viewing to Adelaide Cottage and fallen head over heels with it.
However, this was never confirmed and following them stepping down from Royal life, they have since settled in a mansion in California to raise their children Archie and Lilibet.
The couple is not believed to have ever actually lived in the Windsor residence.
Who has previously lived at Adelaide Cottage?
The cottage was also formerly known as Adelaide Lodge, named after William IV’s consort Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen.
It hasn’t provided a home for a member of the Royal Family until now.
Queen Victoria would regularly visit the house for tea and breakfast, so much so a private carriageway was created for her.
Dash, her beloved King Charles spaniel is also buried on the grounds.
Most notably, Group Captain Peter Townsend lived in Adelaide Cottage, equerry to King George VI from 1944 to 1952.
He moved into the property with his wife Rosie Marchioness Camden in 1945 but they later divorced.
In more recent history, it hit the headlines that the Queen‘s sister, Princess Margaret, became Peter Townsend’s lover. Margaret was reportedly never permitted to marry Peter, a divorcee.
Before 2018, it was home to Simon Rhodes, son of Margaret Rhodes who was first cousin of the Queen and a Lady in Waiting to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.