William and Kate prepare to leave Adelaide Cottage
Why leaving Adelaide Cottage hits the Royals Hard.
William and Kate are said to be feeling a tinge of sadness as they prepare to move to their new ‘forever home’ in Windsor, leaving behind the cosy comforts of Adelaide Cottage.
In 1945, Peter Townsend famed for his romance with Princess Margaret moved in with his family, staying for nearly a decade.
Townsend recalled the cottage’s chilly winters in his memoir Time and Chance, describing it as an “ice box” with just two radiators, where even the drawing room required an overcoat and scarf.
The couple, along with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, are set to relocate to Forest Lodge, a historic Georgian mansion nestled within a private section of Windsor Great Park, which will serve as their primary residence for decades even after William ascends the throne.
Adelaide Cottage, their home since 2022, has been the backdrop for many cherished family moments.
Their move from Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace to the candy pink cottage was initially described by sources as a “test” to see if the location suited family life.
Its proximity to Lambrook School, where the children are enrolled, made settling in even easier.
Adelaide Cottage, originally built in 1831 for Queen Adelaide, the wife of King William IV, boasts nearly two centuries of royal history.
Over the years, the quaint residence has hosted a number of notable figures, Queen Victoria was known to enjoy breakfast or tea there, and her beloved dog, Dash, is even buried in the gardens.
Since then, Adelaide Cottage has seen a series of renovations to make it more comfortable while preserving its historical charm.
A 2015 refurbishment introduced decorative touches such as gilded dolphins, rope ornamentation on the master bedroom ceiling, and a Graeco-Egyptian marble fireplace.
Yet the property’s original architecture, front porch, and meticulously manicured gardens remain largely untouched, maintaining the character and elegance that have defined the cottage for nearly 200 years.
