In the heart of the British countryside lies a place that has become more than just a home for Prince William and Princess Catherine—it's a sanctuary. The Prince and Princess of Wales are reportedly searching for a new residence within the royal residential portfolio, but there’s one home they’re certain to skip.
Currently, the Prince and Princess call Adelaide Cottage in Windsor and Anmer Hall in Norfolk home, with a large Kensington Palace apartment serving as their official royal base. Adelaide Cottage offers an ideal location, being close to Lambrook School where Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis attend. However, as their children grow up, the couple is considering expanding their current living space. According to an insider, the Wales family is quietly hiding a not-so-little secret behind their winter home—a dilapidated annex worth approximately £1 million in its current state. Renovating this space would solve their growing spatial needs.
If they choose to proceed with the renovation, it would provide ample space and remove them from the list of potential residents for the Royal Lodge, a mansion whose size and renovation needs have deterred the millennial royals. Though they adore Adelaide Cottage, it barely accommodates their family, while Anmer Hall offers much more space and expansive grounds. Currently, Adelaide Cottage is used during school terms, while Anmer Hall is reserved for long weekends and holidays.
The plans reportedly include the restoration of the rundown red-brick annex near the cottage, which would serve as both a retreat for Princess Catherine and quarters for their staff. However, the decision isn’t without complications. Sources suggest that Prince William is mindful of public scrutiny regarding royal spending and is carefully considering how to personally cover the renovation costs.
Rumors of the renovation plans have been quietly circulating, and with Princess Catherine now recovering, the family appears to be waiting for the right moment to begin the project. According to media outlets that have recently reported on the situation, the controversy surrounding royal properties is far from over. King Charles III, while not reversing his decision to evict his brother from the Royal Lodge, is still deciding what to do with the property.
There was talk that William and Catherine might move into the Royal Lodge, as they once expressed interest. However, a source close to William suggests that the Wales family is content at Adelaide Cottage because it is a family home without live-in staff, something they’ve resisted for years. Moving into the Royal Lodge would require accommodating domestic staff, which doesn’t align with their preferences.
Frogmore Cottage, vacated by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle over a year ago, has also been suggested as a possible residence for William and Catherine. However, the couple reportedly opposes the idea due to their strained relationship with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Harry and Meghan had hoped Frogmore would always be available to them during their visits to the UK, even though they are no longer working royals. This assumption highlights the growing rift between King Charles and his younger son.
It seems unlikely that Catherine would want to live in a house that was designed and refurbished by Meghan, nor does it appeal to William. Meanwhile, as previously reported, King Charles has recently dismissed Prince Andrew’s security team from the sprawling Royal Lodge. Andrew’s staff is working through their final weeks of their contract, which ends in October. If Andrew does leave the Royal Lodge, it will likely be because he can no longer afford to maintain the mansion.
Despite King Charles’s ongoing efforts to streamline the monarchy and reallocate royal residences, Prince Andrew appears determined to stay put.
