The Princess of Wales marks her 43rd birthday today, celebrating privately with Prince William and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. While the couple are famously guarded about their family life, intriguing details have emerged about their previous domestic setup within the iconic Kensington Palace.
A Royal Bedroom with a Difference
Contrary to conventional expectations for a couple's private quarters, the Prince and Princess of Wales did not use an upstairs bedroom in their former London home. Floor plans of their residence in Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace reveal their main bedroom was situated on the ground floor. This 20-room, four-storey apartment, complete with a private lift, gym, and nine staff quarters, was once the home of Princess Margaret.
The late royal author Christopher Warwick clarified the terminology of these grand residences during an appearance on True Royalty's Royal Beat. He explained that the 'apartments' within Kensington Palace are not flats in the modern sense, but rather a series of magnificent red-brick terrace houses built around three courtyards, all joined yet separate.
Seeking Sanctuary: From Norfolk to Windsor
Following a period of immense personal strain, including the Princess's cancer diagnosis and King Charles's illness, the Waleses have prioritised family and privacy. While they retain access to Anmer Hall in Norfolk, they moved last year to the eight-bedroom Forest Hall in Windsor.
Prior to this, they made their home at the historic Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor Estate. This picturesque cottage, built in 1831 for Queen Adelaide, wife of King William IV, is nestled within the Crown Estate's private 655-acre park. It was a favourite retreat of Queen Victoria, who often took breakfast there, and was once home to Group Captain Peter Townsend, the divorced former equerry whose love affair with Princess Margaret caused a major royal scandal.
The cottage underwent significant renovation in 2015, with reports suggesting its master bedroom boasts an opulent ceiling decorated with gilded dolphins and rope motifs. Interestingly, after the 2018 wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, there was brief speculation that the couple might take Adelaide Cottage as their Windsor base, attracted by its privacy and proximity to London.
A Home Tailored for Modern Royal Life
The choice of a ground-floor bedroom in their Kensington Palace apartment highlights a practical, modern approach to royal living, potentially chosen for convenience amidst their demanding public schedules. Their subsequent moves to more secluded properties like Adelaide Cottage and Forest Hall further underscore a deliberate shift towards creating a secure and private family environment, especially during challenging times.
Their residential history tells a story of a couple carefully navigating their unique position: utilising grand royal apartments for official duties while seeking out more intimate, historic homes to raise their young family away from the spotlight.
