A royal insider claims Prince William and Kate Middleton are “stuck” living at their Windsor cottage, despite the family outgrowing the property, amid Prince Andrew’s stoush with King Charles over leaving the lavish Royal Lodge.
Princess of Wales Kate Middleton has paid a visit to a school in Bath, United Kingdom, taking part in the On Track to Achieve program.
The program aims to help less-confident students develop the skills they need to succeed in life.
Ms Middleton also joined Olympian Kelly Holmes and the students for a game of beanbag noughts and crosses.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been living in Adelaide Cottage, located on the eastern side of the Windsor Castle grounds in Berkshire, since 2022.
Built in 1831, the picturesque four-bedroom home was created for Queen Adelaide, who was married to King William IV.
Renovations were carried out at the property in 2015 before the the Prince and Princess of Wales moved in with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
A royal insider has claimed the Prince and Princess of Wales are being forced to stay at their “cramped” Windsor residence due to other royal properties not opening up for them. Picture: Jordan Pettitt – WPA Pool/Getty Images.
A royal insider has revealed the family agreed to remain at Adelaide Cottage, despite talks they could take over tenancy at Royal Lodge, currently occupied by Prince Andrew.
“(Buckingham Palace) originally wanted Andrew out of Royal Lodge so that the property could be renovated and prepared for new lodgers,” the source told Britain’s OK! Magazine.
“The Prince and Princess of Wales desperately want a larger property for their family in the Windsor area and discussions were originally focused on putting them in there.”
The source noted other factors will need to be considered if the Cambridges decide to move into a bigger house, like rooms for staff.
“They were looking for a larger home but have now resigned themselves to the fact that they will be stuck in the cottage due to other properties not opening up for them.”
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Prince Andrew has reportedly been resisting efforts from King Charles III to leave the 30-room estate and move into a smaller residence like Frogmore Cottage.
Frogmore is the former home of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle who were evicted by King Charles earlier this year.
In 2003, Prince Andrew signed a 75-year lease agreement by the Crown Estate to occupy Royal Lodge, officially moving into the estate in 2004 after renovation works were finished.
Despite The Duke of York rumoured to be under pressure from King Charles to downgrade from the lavish estate, the 63-year-old reportedly has no plans to leave his home of 20 years.
Prince Andrew has been told staying at Royal Lodge while renovations are scheduled could prove “problematic” as the Duke of York worries if he leaves the premises he will “never get back in”, according to the Daily Mail.
Inside the Cambridges’ Adelaide Cottage, the original design comprised of two public rooms and a retiring room.
The ceiling of the main bedroom is believed to be decorated with a dolphins and rope design, inspired by a royal yacht from the 19th century.
Prince William and Princess Catherine do own other official royal residences including Kensington Palace and Anmer Hall, which is part of the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.