After three years of living in cozy Adelaide Cottage, a 'modest' sized home in Windsor Home Park, Prince William and Princess Catherine are reportedly upsizing.
Royal sources have suggested that the family may be relocating to Fort Belvedere, a stunning Gothic Revival mansion situated in a 'hidden corner' of Windsor Great Park, approximately 7.7 miles from their current residence.
Built in the 18th century, Fort Belvedere is the royal residence associated with Edward VIII, who lived there before he became monarch and after he abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson.
During his time there, he added central heating, en-suite bathrooms, a steam room, stables, a swimming pool, and tennis courts – the latter are said to appeal to Princess Catherine and Charlotte, who enjoy the sport.
Fort Belvedere is famously the site where Edward VIII signed the papers that sealed his abdication in 1936.
According to the Mail on Sunday, the family is planning to leave Adelaide Cottage, which has served as a 'peaceful refuge' since the pandemic, for the larger, gothic country house.
Known as The Fort, it features a rose garden, walled garden, kitchen garden, sizeable greenhouse, stables, two lakes, paddocks, and three staff cottages. One well-connected source told the publication: 'They feel they have outgrown Adelaide Cottage and need somewhere more substantial.'
'This is the perfect new home for them. It has a swimming pool and tennis court, and Charlotte loves playing tennis.'
Before Edward VIII's residency, Fort Belvedere welcomed others throughout its 250-year-old history. Built between 1750 and 1755 for Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, as a summer house, Sir Jeffrey Wyatville redesigned it into a more Gothic style hunting lodge in the 1820s. Queen Victoria also used it as a tea house, and it was opened to the public in the 1860s.
During World War II, the home served as government offices, remaining empty until 1956, when Gerald Lascelles, the son of Princess Mary, took up a 99-year lease and converted the house into a more manageable eight-bedroom residence, while restoring the gardens and upgrading the facilities.
It's not yet confirmed whether Princess Kate and Prince William will play a part in Fort Belvedere's next chapter. We await to hear more about their decision shortly, and will let you know more when we do. In the meantime, you can read up on the most famous royal homes in this book by John Martin Robinson, available below.
