Beyond the pristine façades and manicured lawns of Windsor's royal residences lies a history far darker than one might imagine. The Prince and Princess of Wales's chosen 'forever home', the picturesque Adelaide Cottage, is steeped in a complex and often troubling past that echoes through the centuries.
A Legacy Forged in Colonial Exploitation
The very foundations of the property are intertwined with Britain's colonial history. The cottage was constructed in 1831 for Queen Adelaide, wife of King William IV. Crucially, the funding was sourced from the Dowry of Queen Adelaide, a substantial sum that originated from the compensation paid to her first husband, the Duke of Clarence, following the abolition of slavery.
This compensation was not paid to the enslaved Africans but to their enslavers for the loss of their 'property'. Historical records confirm the Duke received a significant payout for the 299 enslaved people on his plantation in Hanover, Jamaica, directly linking the cottage's existence to the profits of slavery.
A House of Tragedy and Turmoil
The cottage's dark history extends beyond its financial origins into more recent, personal tragedies. In a shocking incident that rocked the royal household, Major Hugh Lindsay, a trusted equerry to Queen Elizabeth II, took his own life with a shotgun within the grounds of Adelaide Cottage in 1987.
The event occurred during a period of immense strain, coinciding with the breakdown of the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of York, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. The Major's suicide sent shockwaves through the tight-knit court, casting a long shadow over the idyllic property.
A Fresh Start for a New Generation
Now, Prince William and Princess Catherine have selected this historically loaded property for their family life away from the grandeur of Kensington Palace. Their move to Windsor was driven by a desire for a more normal upbringing for their children, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte, with easier access to their new school, Lambrook.
The couple has undertaken significant renovations to modernise the four-bedroom home, opting for a more understated lifestyle. By choosing a home without live-in staff, they are consciously writing a new chapter for Adelaide Cottage, one focused on family and privacy, yet forever connected to its multifaceted and sombre past.
