The Prince and Princess of Wales may have recently moved into their "forever home," Forest Lodge, in the grounds of the Windsor Estate, but they also have access to another royal residence in Scotland. While their official base and offices remain at Kensington Palace, and they spend weekends and holidays at Anmer Hall in Norfolk, they have another bolthole to escape to.
A Cottage on the Balmoral Estate
Balmoral Castle in Scotland was one of Queen Elizabeth II's favourite homes and was where she chose to spend her final days. The love of the country ran deep within the late monarch, and the same can be said of her descendants, including Prince William and Catherine.
The couple have been seen at Balmoral several times over the years, a place where they can escape for family picnics, fishing, and deer-stalking in utmost privacy. The family even has their own home on the estate in Aberdeenshire: a three-bedroom cottage called Tam-Na-Ghar.
Left to William by the Queen Mother
The house was left to Prince William upon the death of his great-grandmother, the Queen Mother, in 2002. According to HELLO! Magazine, William and Catherine have used the cottage as a retreat since the days when they were both students at St Andrew's University.
The house, which sits on the 50,000-acre estate, is so private that there are hardly any photos of it. A royal source told Vanity Fair that the couple stayed at the home in 2019 with their three children. They said at the time: "The Queen has a lot of guests coming, and to ease the pressure, the [Waleses] are likely to stay at the cottage."
William's Deep Connection to Scotland
Back in 2021, Prince William made his love of Scotland clear as he gave the opening speech of the Church of Scotland's General Assembly in Edinburgh. He told the audience: "I was in Balmoral when I was told that my mother had died. Still in shock, I found sanctuary in the service at Crathie Kirk that very morning and in the dark days of grief that followed I found comfort and solace in the Scottish outdoors."
He added: "Alongside this painful memory is one of great joy because it was here in Scotland, 20 years ago this year, that I first met Catherine. Needless to say the town where you meet your future wife holds a very special place in your heart." Reminiscing about his time at the University of St Andrews, he said: "I spent four very happy and formative years studying in St Andrews. The town and the students left me alone to get on with student life, allowing me to share their freedoms - and their pubs. As I grew up I saw how my grandmother relishes every minute she spends here and my father is never happier than in walking among the hills. My childhood was full of holidays having fun in the fresh air, swimming in lochs, family barbecues with my grandfather in command, and yes the odd midge."
