Adelaide Cottage is a historic residence located within the Home Park of Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England. It forms part of the Crown Estate and has a rich history, being closely associated with the British royal family. In 2022, William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales uprooted their lives in London and moved to Windsor with their three children: Prince George age 10, Princess Charlotte age 8, and Prince Louis , age five . The property’s proximity to Windsor Castle and its relatively modest size compared to other royal dwellings offer a sense of privacy and normalcy for their young family.
The cottage’s initial name was Adelaide Lodge, but it was later changed to the more informal “cottage” to reflect its smaller size and intended use as a casual retreat.
Although the Prince and Princess of Wales have not said goodbye to their London residence at Kensington Palace and occasionally stay in Apartment 1A during business trips, the charming historic Adelaide Cottage has become their home.
The main reasons for the royal family’s move were the desire to lead a quiet and comfortable life and to be closer to Queen Elizabeth. Unfortunately, Her Majesty recently passed away, but other members of the royal family live nearby, with whom the Prince and Princess of Wales have good relations. Thus, King Charles and Queen Camilla preferred to spend time at Windsor Castle rather than at Buckingham Palace, which is considered the official residence of British monarchs. Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, also live nearby in Bagshot Park. Lets talk about the house’s history and its design features.
Main facts about the first residents of the house.
Adelaide Cottage is a mansion located in Windsor Home Park, near St George’s Chapel and approximately 25 miles from central London. It was built in 1831 by Sir Geoffrey Wyatville and was originally thought to be Queen Adelaide’s tea house (it was described as «extraordinarily elegant» in the press of the time). She was the wife of King William IV and Queen of the United Kingdom and Hanover from 1830 to 1837. The building was created using materials from John Nash’s Royal Lodge from Windsor Great Park. At the time of construction, there were two public rooms: the Queen’s rest apartment and the pages’ room. The house features furniture from the former royal box and a marble fireplace in the Greco-Egyptian style of the Regency era.
During the reign of Queen Victoria, it became an idyllic, upscale guest house. Important visitors to Windsor in the 1830s regularly described visiting one estate or another. Queen Victoria often visited the house and had breakfast or drank tea on the premises, so a particular road was made for her. Her beloved King Charles spaniel, Dash, is also buried on the grounds.
In 1941, Adelaide Cottage became known as the House of Grace and Favor, a term used to describe homes owned by the Queen but which she rents out to members of the royal family or staff. One of the first residents was Peter Townsend, who had mixed feelings about the house. He described it as a refrigerator in winter since the mansion only had two radiators. Electricity was supplied through cables running from Windsor Castle, but the current was so weak that only a vacuum cleaner and a small electric heater could be turned on at a time.
The inside of the cottage was gloomy, decorated with Victorian wallpaper and heavy furniture. No wonder one commentator in the 1960s called it «shabby and unattractive».
Despite its historical significance, Adelaide Cottage underwent major renovations in 2015. While maintaining its architectural integrity, the renovations ensured the living space was comfortable and functional for its modern residents. Until 2018, Simon Rhodes, the son of Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin Margaret Rhodes, lived in the cottage.
According to a Daily Mail information, the Queen offered Harry and Meghan Markle this listed property as a wedding gift. The couple even attended the viewing, but something went wrong, and now the Sussexes live in the USA.
For more details, please check our video about Prince William & Princess Kate