Kate Middleton and Prince William life-changing decision for children 'surprised a lot of people'

A charming four-bedroom cottage in the Home Counties, Adelaide Cottage, has become the perfect fit for the future king and his wife, surprising many with their life-changing choice for their children's sake, according to a Royal expert. Now the main abode of the Prince and Princess of Wales, this delightful two-storey home is situated within the vast 655-acre Windsor Home Park, just a stone's throw from Windsor Castle.

Both aged 42, William and Kate waved goodbye to their opulent Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace, opting for a more down-to-earth lifestyle for their young family – Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six. "They are very, very happy there. Being able to live in the middle of Windsor Home Park, where they're not overlooked and can come and go in complete privacy, makes the downsize from Kensington Palace worth it on every level," commented Katie Nicholl, a Royal expert and author.

"There's not a huge amount of space, but Adelaide Cottage ticks all the right boxes."

The couple's move is believed to be driven by a wish to give their children a taste of normality, away from the prying eyes of Kensington Palace's numerous onlookers, and it also brought them nearer to the Queen, who sadly passed away just weeks after they moved in.

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Adelaide Cottage, with its modest four bedrooms, may not match the grandeur of the nearby seven-bedroom Royal Lodge where Prince Andrew resides, but it offers ample space for a family, particularly as they have opted not to have live-in staff. Instead, aides travel to work at the property, reports the Mirror.

"I think they surprised a lot of people when they moved there," said Royal commentator Duncan Larcombe. "There are plenty of other places they could have moved to, but Adelaide Cottage fits with their desire as parents to be a normal family, where there aren't servants and they don't have 30 rooms. William would much rather have his kids around him, in the rooms next door to where he's sleeping."

The cottage is distinguished by its unique pale pink exterior walls and sits amidst mature trees that offer the privacy the family values. The gardens are beautifully maintained and surrounded by pristine hedges.

This year, the cottage has served as a tranquil sanctuary for Kate as she recovers from her cancer treatment. "Kate's been able to go out for walks and enjoy the fresh air, rather than be cooped up in some draughty old palace in London," added Duncan.

"She's happy there, with her family around her."

Conveniently located just a 15-minute drive from Lambrook, where the children go to school, and less than an hour from the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, Adelaide Cottage boasts an ideal location. "The proximity to the school and the proximity to Kate's parents makes it absolutely ideal," Duncan noted.

"The kids spend a lot of time with their grandparents, and when William and Kate are both working, the Middletons can step in. That's a huge advantage for any young family."

The cottage, christened Adelaide Cottage in 1831 after King William IV's spouse, Queen Adelaide, acted as her seasonal retreat. Exemplifying the 'cottage orné' – a term of French origin denoting 'decorated cottage' – it boasts distinctive design elements such as paired chimneys with tiered bases at its southern entrance and a porte-cochère for weather protection.

Highlighting the residence's charm is an attractive veranda on the eastern aspect. In October 2022, during Addiction Awareness Week, Kate afforded a glimpse into Adelaide Cottage's interior via video.

Viewers caught sight of the living room comprising a plain cream settee with vibrant cushions, encircled by framed familial photographs and verdant house plants. Prince William and Kate Middleton are reported to have recorded their Paris 2024 Olympics congratulatory message to Team GB within Adelaide Cottage's gardens, amidst the splendor of blooming roses and dense foliage.

Previously, speculation had mounted that the Royal Lodge, Prince Andrew's abode for over twenty years, would serve as the couple's dwelling.

The grand mansion, boasting around 30 rooms, is significantly larger than Adelaide Cottage and reportedly costs £400,000 annually to maintain. However, earlier this year, rumours swirled that the Duke, whose ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, lives in a separate wing of the lodge, had declined to move to Frogmore Cottage, previously home to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Regardless, William and Kate appear happy with Adelaide Cottage, which has been a favourite among senior royals for years. Queen Victoria, who spent most of her reign at the neighbouring Windsor Castle, often enjoyed breakfast or afternoon tea at Adelaide.

Her beloved King Charles spaniel, Dash, is buried within the grounds, marked with a special plaque. Before the Duke and Duchess's move, the property was home to Simon Rhodes, son of Queen Elizabeth II's cousin, Margaret Rhodes, and Sir Hugh Roberts, former director of the Royal Collection.

The most infamous – and scandalous – past inhabitant of Adelaide Cottage was Princess Margaret's lover, Royal Air Force Group Captain Peter Townsend. In the 1940s, he lived there with his wife, Rosemary, and their children.

The marriage fell apart in 1952, after which Townsend proposed to a young Princess Margaret at just 22. However, due to the Royal Marriages Act of 1772 and Townsend being a divorcee, Queen Elizabeth II denied her sister permission to marry.

Townsend was notably unenthusiastic about the residence, referring to it as an "icebox" due to its limited heating, with only two radiators. The weak electricity supply from Windsor Castle further added to the discomfort.

One critic described the interior, with its Victorian wallpaper and bulky furniture, as "pokey and unattractive". However, a thorough renovation in 2015 ensured that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge didn't have to undertake any major decorating work themselves.

The cottage now boasts an elegant master bedroom ceiling adorned with gilt dolphins and ropework from an old Royal yacht. Katie observed: "It's cosy, it's not too vast and it feels like home."

"It's perfect for raising a young family – and raising them the way Kate and William do, with a nod to their Royal status, but a far greater nod to them being brought up in as ordinary and as normal a way as possible."