Prince William and Princess Kate’s prospective move from Adelaide Cottage to a larger property has been called “hard to imagine”.
The veteran royal expert cited the couple’s commitment to providing their children with a more ordinary childhood than previous generations of royals.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have spent the last three years with their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, living in the four-bedroom house, Adelaide Cottage, on the grounds of Windsor Castle.
However, they are now believed to feel they have “outgrown” the relatively modern property and are seeking to upsize.
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Kate and Prince’s William’s prospective move away from Adelaide Cottage has been called ‘hard to imagine’
To that end, the couple are thought to be keen on the palatial Fort Belvedere, tucked away in a secluded part of Windsor Great Park.
The grade II-listed gothic-revival mansion, known colloquially as The Fort, was built in the 18th century and comes with a sprawling 59 acres of grounds.
However, royal expert Jennie Bond has revealed she finds the idea of the move “hard to imagine”.
Bond emphasised that William and Catherine have been “so set on giving their children a more ‘normal’ upbringing than royal youngsters before them” that relocating to a grander property seems unlikely.
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The Prince and Princess of Wales have been determined to raise their children in as ‘normal’ a manner as possible
“William and Catherine have been so set on giving their children a more ‘normal’ upbringing than royal youngsters before them that it’s hard to imagine them wanting to move to what is, in effect, a castle — albeit it a relatively small one,” she told The Mirror.
Bond acknowledged practical considerations might prompt a change: “However, it may well be that they feel they are outgrowing Adelaide Cottage – four bedrooms for a family of five doesn’t leave much room for visiting relatives or friends, or for kids’ sleepovers.”
The expert also stressed that any decision would centre on their children’s well being: “Whatever they decide, William and Catherine will have their children’s happiness at heart.
“For them, preserving a relaxed, cosy family life – as close to some sort of normality as possible given their status – is a top priority,” she reckoned.
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The palatial Fort Belvedere is believed to be a front runner for the Waleses next home
Regarding Fort Belvedere itself, Bond accepted that the palatial grounds would “certainly be a step up in terms of grandeur”.
“With up to eight bedrooms, acres of garden, a lake, a swimming pool, tennis courts and a polo stud its appeal is obvious. Charlotte and Catherine love playing tennis, and the whole family would enjoy the outdoor pool,” she added.
The property underwent extensive renovation by its previous occupants, Canadian billionaire Galen Weston and his wife Hilary, who were close to the royal family.
Bond dismissed the Royal Lodge as a viable option despite its 30 rooms offering substantially more space than the Wales family’s current accommodation.
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The Waleses moved into Adelaide Cottage in August 2022
She cautioned: “There has been much talk of the Wales’s wanting to move to Royal Lodge, but that is already a cause of bad blood within the family as Prince Andrew refuses to budge. Fort Belvedere could be an inspired alternative which would be less provocative than taking over Andrew’s home.”
The Duke of York currently occupies Royal Lodge, though reports suggest the King would prefer him to relocate to the smaller Frogmore Cottage, previously home to Prince Harry and Meghan.
William and Kate first moved into Adelaide Cottage in August 2022, just weeks before the death of Queen Elizabeth in Balmoral.
Adelaide Cottage is a short walk from Windsor Castle and quick drive to Lambrook School, which George, Charlotte and Louis attend.
Their home also provided a secluded refuge for Princess Kate during her cancer battle in 2024.