Kate and William’s uncommon sleeping arrangements at Kensington Palace revealed
The Prince and Princess of Wales, who this week shared a heartfelt video where Kate discussed her cancer journey and announced the completion of her chemotherapy treatment, rarely divulge details about their private life. However, their living arrangements at Kensington Palace are not quite what one might assume.
Unlike most couples, they don’t sleep in an upstairs bedroom – a floor plan of their residence in Apartment 1A of the iconic London building reveals the location of the bedrooms. The Royal couple and their three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, moved to Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor Estate in September 2022.
Their former home, which remains listed as the family’s official residence, has always been somewhat enigmatic. The main bedroom they used was located on the ground floor of Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace.
This apartment, previously inhabited by Princess Margaret, boasts 20 rooms, four floors, its own lift, gym, and nine staff rooms. Late Royal author Christopher Warwick clarified why it’s referred to as an ‘apartment’ on True Royalty’s Royal Beat, stating: “All of these royal residences at Kensington Palace are called apartments, which of course makes people immediately think they are flats like the American term for an apartment.”
“They are not. If you think of Kensington Palace in a way, it is built around three courtyards. If you kind of think of them as being these wonderful red brick terrace houses. Because they are all joined, but separate houses.
The much-loved couple who recently touched hearts with a glimpse into their family life in an adorable video have given up Anmer Hall in Norfolk for the quieter and more modest life at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor.
Adelaide Cottage, steeped in history, is tucked away within the Crown Estate’s private 655-acre park and was originally constructed in 1831 as a getaway spot for the consort of King William IV, Queen Adelaide – a home rife with a blend of charm and scandalous tales from the past.
This quaint residence, also once a beloved retreat of Queen Victoria who took a fancy to enjoying her breakfast there, has another claim to fame for housing one of the most intriguing past occupants, none other than Group Captain Peter Townsend.
Townsend, an ex-RAF pilot who later became an equerry to King George VI, was involved in a notorious romantic escapade with Princess Margaret. Their affair raised eyebrows, marred by the fact that Townsend was both a divorcee and 16 years her senior.
In a major refurbishment completed in 2015, Adelaide Cottage’s interior was significantly enhanced, boasting some extremely opulent decor. Reports suggest that the master bedroom features an ornate ceiling adorned with gilded dolphins intertwined with rope ornamentation.
After Prince Harry and Meghan’s 2018 nuptials, whispers circulated that the couple might make the cottage their new Windsor abode. The pair were reportedly drawn to the property’s privacy and proximity to London.