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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Rebecca Russell

Queen's forgotten Windsor home has scandalous past - and Meghan nearly called it home

Something that defines the Royal Family is the number of castles, palaces and stately homes that are associated with it.

Whether it is Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Windsor Castle or Kensington Palace, the Royal Family has an impressive portfolio of homes all around the country.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expected to make a permanent move to the Windsor Estate later this year with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis and this has prompted several questions over where the family of five are set to live.

One home that many royal fans thought was a strong possibility was Adelaide Cottage.

While it has since emerged that the couple rejected the idea of moving to the small home, it is famous for facilitating one of the most scandalous royal love stories of all time.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set to move to Windsor this year (PA)

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Nestled in the heart of the Crown Estate's private 655-acre royal park, Adelaide Cottage was built in 1831 as a retreat for William IV’s wife Queen Adelaide. It was also known to be a favourite home of Queen Victoria as she frequently enjoyed taking her breakfast there.

Arguably, however, one of the most famous former residents was Princess Margaret's love interest, Group Captain Peter Townsend.

Adelaide Cottage is on the Windsor Estate (Matrixpictures.co.uk)

Townsend was an RAF pilot and later an equerry to King George VI who embarked on a famous love affair with Princess Margaret. Their relationship was particularly sordid as Townsend was a divorced man who was 16 years older than her.

The news of their closeness came about when a journalist noticed her pick a piece of lint off of Townsend’s jacket at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953.

Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend's relationship prompted scandal (Popperfoto via Getty Images)

The pair became engaged in April 1953 but the wedding never took place as the remarriage of a divorced person was not in line with the Royal Marriages Act 1772.

They dissolved their relationship in 1955 and Margaret released a statement which read: "I would like it to be known that I have decided not to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend.

"I have been aware that, subject to my renouncing my rights of succession, it might have been possible for me to contract a civil marriage.

"But mindful of the Church's teachings that Christian marriage is indissoluble, and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have resolved to put these considerations before others.

"I have reached this decision entirely alone, and in doing so I have been strengthened by the unfailing support and devotion of Group Captain Townsend."

Adelaide cottage underwent major renovations in 2015 and has some seriously elaborate decorations. According to reports, the master bedroom at the cottage reportedly has a ceiling covered with gilded dolphins and a rope decoration.

Following Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018, there were brief suggestions that the cottage would be their new Windsor home. It was said that the couple liked how private the cottage was and how close it was to London.

The cottage has also been the home to many royal dignitaries and courtiers, most recently Simon Rhodes, the son of the Queen's first cousin Margaret Rhodes who served as a Lady in Waiting to The Queen Mother.

Her Majesty helped Rhodes move his family to the UK from his home in Zimbabwe after he had to flee the continuing violence in the country.

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