The residences of the two most high-profile brothers in the British royal family tell compelling stories about privilege, practicality, and the profound differences in how William and Harry have approached royal life. Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor estate and Nottingham Cottage on the Kensington Palace grounds represent not merely physical structures but symbolic expressions of divergent paths, priorities, and perceptions about what constitutes appropriate royal living. While both properties are modest by royal standards, their locations, histories, and the narratives surrounding them reveal much about media scrutiny, public expectations, and the brothers’ contrasting responses to life within the royal system. Understanding these two cottages provides intimate glimpses into the lived experiences of modern royals navigating the tension between centuries-old traditions and contemporary desires for privacy and normalcy.
Adelaide Cottage: History and Architecture
Adelaide Cottage, formerly known as Adelaide Lodge, is a Grade II* listed property located in Windsor Home Park, the 655-acre private Royal Park of Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England. The cottage stands approximately half a mile east of Windsor Castle itself, positioned within the secure confines of the Home Park where only those with special permission can access. The location provides extraordinary privacy while remaining close enough to Windsor Castle for official royal business, creating an ideal balance between seclusion and accessibility that has made it attractive to multiple generations of royals.
The cottage was built in 1831 under the supervision of architect Sir Jeffry Wyatville for Queen Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, wife of King William IV, as a summer retreat where the royal couple could escape the formality of court life. The property was constructed on the site of an old Head Keeper’s Lodge, incorporating building materials salvaged from John Nash’s Royal Lodge at Windsor Great Park, demonstrating the royal practice of reusing materials from previous structures. The architectural style was described at the time of construction as chastely elegant, reflecting the picturesque aesthetic popular in early Victorian design.
The original cottage featured two public rooms in addition to a retiring room for the queen and a pages’ room, with furnishings sourced from the former royal lodge creating continuity with previous royal residences. A marble fireplace mantel in the Regency Graeco-Egyptian style, fashionable in the early 19th century, adds classical sophistication to the interior. The principal bedroom boasts an extraordinary ceiling incorporating decorative elements including gilt dolphins and rope ornaments salvaged from the former royal yacht HMY Royal George, creating a nautical-inspired theme that interior designers describe as iconic and almost thematic.
Queen Victoria, who succeeded William IV in 1837 and reigned for over 63 years, frequently visited Adelaide Cottage for breakfast and tea, demonstrating the property’s enduring appeal across successive monarchs. Victoria’s affection for the cottage led to the construction of a private carriageway specifically for her visits, allowing the queen to travel comfortably between Windsor Castle and the cottage. Victoria’s beloved pet dog Dash is buried on the cottage grounds, adding a personal dimension to the property’s history that connects it to one of Britain’s most significant monarchs.
The present cottage has four bedrooms arranged across the structure, making it significantly smaller than the grand royal residences like Kensington Palace or Windsor Castle but substantially larger and more comfortable than the cramped Nottingham Cottage. The property underwent major renovations in 2015 with careful attention to preserving the historical architecture while updating essential systems including plumbing, electrical, and heating infrastructure. The Grade II* listing on the National Heritage List for England since October 1975 recognizes the cottage’s special architectural and historical significance, placing it in the highest category of listed buildings below Grade I.
Nottingham Cottage: Compact Royal Living
Nottingham Cottage is a grace-and-favour house located on the grounds of Kensington Palace in London, designed by the legendary architect Sir Christopher Wren who also designed St Paul’s Cathedral. The cottage’s name derives from Nottingham House, the former residence of Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham, who sold the property to King William III and Mary II in 1689 for 20,000 pounds. William and Mary developed the estate as Kensington House, later expanded and renamed Kensington Palace, with Nottingham Cottage remaining as one of several smaller residential buildings on the extensive palace grounds.
Marion Crawford, who resided at the cottage from 1948 to 1950 serving as governess to the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, described Nottingham Cottage as a dream of seasoned red brick with roses round the door, creating a romanticized image of cottage charm. This description emphasizes the aesthetic appeal that made the property attractive as grace-and-favour accommodation for royal household members and staff. The cottage stands near two other similar grace-and-favour houses called Ivy Cottage and Wren Cottage, forming a small cluster of residential properties within the larger Kensington Palace complex.
The cottage measures just 1,324 square feet or 123 square meters in total size, making it one of the smallest residential properties regularly occupied by senior royals. For perspective, this is actually 60 percent larger than the average British home of 818 square feet, though considerably more modest than typical royal residences. The property contains two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and two floors, creating a compact vertical layout rather than sprawling horizontal space. The intimacy of scale means residents can quickly move between rooms but also creates challenges for entertaining guests or accommodating staff.
The ceilings at Nottingham Cottage are famously low, noted as a distinguishing characteristic that has affected multiple tall royal residents. Both Prince William at 6 feet 3 inches and Prince Harry at 6 feet 1 inch had to stoop in various rooms to avoid hitting their heads on ceiling beams, creating practical daily inconveniences. Harry described in his Netflix docuseries how the low ceilings created challenges, while Marion Crawford’s description suggests the cottage’s proportions were designed for more modest heights typical of earlier centuries when people tended to be shorter.
The cottage’s location on the Kensington Palace grounds provides both advantages and challenges. Residents benefit from the security infrastructure protecting the entire palace complex, proximity to the offices and staff support based at Kensington Palace, and the prestigious address of one of London’s most famous royal residences. However, the location also means living in central London with urban noise, traffic, air quality issues, and the constant presence of tourists, media, and palace staff creating less privacy than more remote royal properties.
William and Kate’s Adelaide Cottage Journey
Prince William and Princess Catherine moved to Adelaide Cottage in August 2022 with their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, marking a significant shift in how the future King and Queen approach royal living. The move came after years living at Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace, a sprawling 20-room residence across four floors that had undergone extensive renovation costing 4.5 million pounds of taxpayer money between 2013 and 2014. The decision to downsize from this grand London apartment to a four-bedroom cottage raised eyebrows and prompted questions about why the couple would abandon a property where such substantial public investment had recently occurred.
Royal sources revealed in October 2025 that Adelaide Cottage was never the original plan for William and Kate when they decided to relocate from Kensington Palace to Windsor. Their preferred choice was Royal Lodge, the sprawling 30-room mansion occupied by Prince Andrew for more than two decades. However, Andrew’s refusal to vacate Royal Lodge despite pressure from King Charles forced a dramatic change of plans. Them going into Adelaide Cottage was never the plan according to a source who told the Mail on Sunday, adding that they were forced to compromise because Prince Andrew wouldn’t shift.
The compromise left the future King and Queen settling for a significantly smaller property located just over three miles from their intended home. Despite this, William and Kate have repeatedly emphasized the benefits of Adelaide Cottage for their family, particularly the access to green spaces, proximity to excellent schools, and the more normal childhood they can provide their children away from central London’s scrutiny. A source told Us Weekly that George, Charlotte and Louis are really excited about going to a new school and being in the countryside in the fresh air where there’s lots of space for them to play freely.
Interior designer Deepa Mehta-Sagar explained to Express that Adelaide Cottage is smaller in comparison with the family’s other two homes and yet again represents a desire to bring up the children in an ordinary manner while still ensuring they remain rooted in royal history. The choice reflects evolving approaches to royal parenting that prioritize children’s wellbeing and family privacy over traditional expectations about grand royal residences and public visibility. The cottage’s historical connection to Queen Adelaide and Queen Victoria provides appropriate royal context while the modest scale creates a more relatable family environment.
Significantly, William and Kate chose not to employ live-in staff at Adelaide Cottage, a remarkable departure from traditional royal household arrangements where large staff complements lived on-site. This decision prioritizes the establishment of a family environment that is as private as possible, with clear boundaries between work life supported by staff at their Kensington Palace offices and home life where the family enjoys privacy. The ability to be just a family in their own space without constant staff presence represents a level of normalcy impossible in grander royal residences with integrated staff quarters.
The cottage reportedly maintains the traditional nautical-inspired theme in the main bedroom with gilt dolphins and rope decorations from the royal yacht Royal George, creating décor that Mehta-Sagar described as almost iconic. The four bedrooms accommodate the family of five comfortably without the excessive space of grand royal palaces, while the Windsor Home Park location provides extensive grounds for children to play without leaving secure estate boundaries. The property offers what royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams described as modest accommodation by royal standards yet perfectly suited to a family seeking privacy.
However, Adelaide Cottage was always intended as temporary accommodation for the Wales family. In August 2025, it was announced that William and Kate plan to move by Christmas 2025 to Forest Lodge, an eight-bedroom Grade II listed Georgian property approximately one mile from Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate. Kate described the planned move as an opportunity for a fresh start and leaving some of the more unhappy memories behind, referring to her cancer diagnosis and treatment during 2024. Forest Lodge is described by royal sources as their forever home, remaining their primary residence even after William eventually becomes King, representing an unprecedented approach where a future monarch plans to live permanently outside central London.
Harry and Meghan’s Nottingham Cottage Experience
Prince Harry lived at Nottingham Cottage for several years after leaving the military, describing it as his bachelor pad where he enjoyed relative privacy away from the public eye. The compact two-bedroom property suited a single man’s needs, providing sufficient space for personal living quarters while remaining manageable without extensive staff support. Harry’s long tenure at the cottage from approximately 2013 until 2019 demonstrates that he found the accommodation acceptable for several years despite its modest proportions and low ceilings.
When Harry began dating Meghan Markle in 2016, he brought her to Nottingham Cottage where their relationship developed away from media scrutiny during its early stages. Harry admitted in his 2023 memoir Spare that he felt embarrassed to show Meghan where he lived, writing I was ashamed of my place describing it as a palace in my mind but realizing it was really just a cottage. This embarrassment reflected Harry’s awareness that Nottingham Cottage did not match typical expectations for royal residences, particularly when compared to the grand apartments where other senior royals lived.
Harry proposed to Meghan at Nottingham Cottage in November 2017, with the couple announcing their engagement shortly thereafter. The cottage became the setting for some of their happiest early moments despite Harry’s reservations about its size and appearance. During their Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, the couple revisited memories of their time at Nottingham Cottage with a mix of nostalgia and acknowledgment of its limitations. The cottage represented their first shared home, creating emotional significance that transcended the physical structure’s modest proportions.
Meghan’s reaction to Nottingham Cottage became a source of controversy following publication of royal author Tom Quinn’s book Yes Ma’am The Secret Life of Royal Servants. Quinn claimed that Meghan felt the small cottage was a reflection on how the royal family were belittling her husband, with a source allegedly saying Meghan felt it was so small that it must be a reflection on how the royal family were belittling her husband. The author suggested Meghan struggled to understand why they were given a relatively modest property especially when compared to the grander homes of other royals.
A palace staff member was quoted in Quinn’s book explaining the disconnect between American and British royal attitudes toward housing. She just didn’t understand that real royals don’t care much about houses and material possessions, they allegedly said, adding Having always had them they take them for granted. This explanation suggests cultural differences where Meghan, coming from outside the royal system, interpreted housing assignments as status indicators while born royals viewed properties more pragmatically as functional accommodation.
According to Quinn, Harry had no issue with Nottingham Cottage, finding it perfectly adequate for their needs. A rather beautiful house in the grounds of a famous palace hardly seemed to Harry the equivalent of being forced to live in a shed at the end of the garden Quinn wrote, suggesting Harry’s royal upbringing created different expectations than Meghan’s outsider perspective. But for Meghan things were more complex according to the author, with her reportedly comparing their residence to that of Prince William and Kate who lived just a short distance away in the 20-room Apartment 1A complete with teams of live-in staff.
During the Harry & Meghan Netflix series, Meghan exclaimed Kensington Palace sounds very regal but Nottingham Cottage was so small, emphasizing the disconnect between the prestigious palace address and the reality of their compact accommodation. Harry also complained about the low ceilings being too low for his 6-foot-1-inch height, creating daily practical frustrations. These complaints did not sit well with many viewers who noted that Nottingham Cottage is still a respectable place to live compared to most people’s residences, being 60 percent larger than the average British home.
The couple left Nottingham Cottage in 2019, moving to Frogmore Cottage nearby in the Windsor estate grounds. Frogmore Cottage offered dramatically more space with 10 bedrooms instead of just two, though the couple spent approximately 2.4 million pounds of taxpayer money renovating the property. They would eventually repay this cost when they decided to step back from royal duties and relocate to North America. The move to Frogmore reflected their desire for more space as they prepared to welcome their first child Archie in May 2019, with Nottingham Cottage clearly insufficient for a growing family.
The IKEA Furniture Embarrassment
One of the most discussed revelations from Prince Harry’s memoir Spare involved his feelings of embarrassment about the furniture in Nottingham Cottage after visiting his brother William and Kate at their grand Kensington Palace apartment. Harry described visiting Apartment 1A and being overwhelmed by the grandeur he encountered. The wallpaper the ceiling trim the walnut bookshelves filled with volumes of peaceful colors priceless works of art he wrote according to Daily Mail, adding Magnificent Like a museum.
The stark contrast between William and Kate’s opulent Kensington Palace apartment and his own modest Nottingham Cottage created profound feelings of inadequacy. We congratulated them on the renovation without holding back the compliments Harry wrote, while feeling embarrassed of our IKEA lamps and the secondhand sofa we’d recently bought on sale with Meg’s credit card on Sofa.com. This admission sparked considerable commentary about Harry’s privileged perspective, with critics noting that most people would be delighted to afford IKEA furniture and would never consider a secondhand sofa from a reputable retailer as something to be embarrassed about.
The passage reveals the intense pressure Harry felt to maintain standards befitting his royal status, even though he and Meghan were living in a grace-and-favour property provided at no cost. The IKEA lamps and Sofa.com secondhand sofa represented perfectly reasonable middle-class furniture choices that millions of British people would consider aspirational, yet from Harry’s perspective within the royal context they symbolized insufficient status and wealth. The emotional response demonstrates how relative comparisons within families can create feelings of inadequacy regardless of objective circumstances.
For perspective, Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace where William and Kate lived contains 20 rooms spread across four stories, hardly what most people would call an apartment. The property had undergone 4.5 million pound renovations partially funded by taxpayers, creating interiors featuring historic wallpaper, ornate ceiling trim, walnut bookshelves, and priceless artworks from the Royal Collection. The scale and opulence fundamentally differed from Nottingham Cottage’s 1,324 square feet with two bedrooms, making direct comparison problematic.
However, despite Harry’s IKEA embarrassment during his Nottingham Cottage years, he now lives with Meghan and their two children Archie and Lilibet in an 18,671-square-foot Montecito mansion that has nine bedrooms and 19 bathrooms. The California property valued at approximately 30 million dollars as of 2022 sits on 7.4 acres and includes a gym, spa, movie theater, game room, pool, guesthouse, and wine cellar. The dramatic transformation from feeling embarrassed about IKEA furniture to living in a multi-million dollar California estate demonstrates how rapidly Harry’s circumstances changed following the couple’s departure from royal life.
The Montecito mansion was purchased in June 2020 shortly after Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties and relocated to California. The property provides the privacy, space, and luxury that Nottingham Cottage and even Frogmore Cottage could never offer, though at the cost of living thousands of miles from Harry’s family and homeland. The trajectory from Nottingham Cottage to Montecito mansion encapsulates Harry and Meghan’s journey from constrained royal life to California independence, with furniture choices serving as symbolic markers of this transformation.
The 12 Million Pound Kensington Palace Controversy
The extensive renovations to Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace created substantial controversy particularly after William and Kate decided to move to Adelaide Cottage, leaving the recently renovated London residence largely unused. Royal commentator Robert Jobson highlighted that the Cambridges had 12 million pounds worth of renovations done to Kensington Palace 1A to make it family-oriented and livable for them and their kids, with the promise that they’d be there for the long haul. The subsequent move to Adelaide Cottage just a few years later prompted questions about value for taxpayer money spent on renovations.
The renovation costs were initially reported as 4.5 million pounds covered by the Sovereign Grant from 2013-2014, with work including removing asbestos contamination, rewiring, replastering, installing eco-friendly systems, and comprehensive updates to heating, water, and electrical infrastructure. The property, which had been Princess Margaret’s home until her death in 2002, had not been refurbished since the early 1960s, making extensive work necessary. Additional costs brought the total closer to the 12 million pound figure Jobson cited, including interior decorating, furnishings, and ongoing maintenance.
The renovated apartment created a palatial family home with over 20 rooms spread across four floors including two master suites, multiple guest bedrooms with his-and-hers dressing rooms, several reception rooms for entertaining, three kitchens including one for family and two for staff, a gym, an elevator, and dedicated nurseries for the children decorated with a Peter Rabbit theme. The scale and luxury of the renovated space far exceeded what most British families could ever hope to inhabit, making the subsequent decision to move to Adelaide Cottage difficult for some taxpayers to understand.
However, William and Kate maintained Apartment 1A as their official London residence and office base despite Adelaide Cottage becoming their primary family home. The couple uses the Kensington Palace apartment for official engagements, staff offices coordinating their royal duties, and occasional overnight stays when London commitments require late evenings or early morning starts. This arrangement means the renovation investment was not entirely wasted, though the primary residential function for which the apartment was renovated has been substantially reduced.
Royal experts Roberta Fiorito and Rachel Bowie discussed the controversy on their podcast Royally Obsessed, noting that the public was miffed about the couple maintaining three furnished homes including Kensington Palace, Adelaide Cottage, and their privately owned Anmer Hall in Norfolk. To have three furnished homes I think the taxpayers are a little miffed about this they commented, reflecting genuine public concerns about royal spending during periods of economic constraint affecting ordinary British families.
The controversy intensified when compared to the treatment of Prince Harry and Meghan regarding Frogmore Cottage, which underwent 2.4 million pounds of renovations paid initially by taxpayers through the Sovereign Grant. The couple repaid this sum in full after stepping back from royal duties, yet were subsequently asked to vacate the property in 2023 following publication of Harry’s memoir Spare. The different treatment created perceptions of unfairness, with William and Kate maintaining multiple residences after extensive taxpayer-funded renovations while Harry and Meghan were evicted from Frogmore despite repaying renovation costs.
Palace sources defended the Kensington Palace renovation by noting that as future King and Queen, William and Kate require appropriate London accommodation for official duties, state visits, and ceremonial functions that cannot be conducted from Adelaide Cottage. The apartments serve working palace functions beyond mere family accommodation, justifying ongoing maintenance and use. However, the timing of moving to Adelaide Cottage so soon after completing expensive Kensington Palace renovations created optics problems that royal communications struggled to manage effectively.
Frogmore Cottage and the Sussex Eviction
After leaving Nottingham Cottage in 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan moved to Frogmore Cottage, a Grade II-listed property in the grounds of Windsor Castle in Berkshire. The cottage had been a gift from Queen Elizabeth II to the couple, recognizing their marriage and providing appropriate accommodation for the growing family. Frogmore Cottage offered dramatically more space than Nottingham with 10 bedrooms, allowing proper accommodation for the couple, their baby Archie born in May 2019, nursery staff, security personnel, and guest rooms for visiting family and friends.
The property required extensive renovation as it had been divided into multiple staff residences and needed conversion back to a single family home. Work included restoring the historic structure, replacing floor joists and ceiling beams, rewiring the electrical system, installing new gas and water mains, updating bathrooms and kitchens, and creating appropriate security infrastructure. The renovations cost 2.4 million pounds initially covered by taxpayers through the Sovereign Grant, though the couple agreed to repay this sum, which they completed in September 2020.
The property reportedly includes a swimming pool, guest house, and tennis court, creating a comprehensive estate suitable for a senior royal family. However, Harry and Meghan’s tenure at Frogmore Cottage proved short-lived as they announced in January 2020 their decision to step back from royal duties and pursue financial independence. The couple initially moved to Vancouver Island in Canada before relocating to Los Angeles where they stayed in Tyler Perry’s 18 million dollar mansion, eventually purchasing their Montecito property in June 2020.
In February 2023, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were asked to vacate Frogmore Cottage, with the couple’s spokesperson confirming the news. The request came from King Charles III just one day after Harry’s tell-all memoir Spare hit shelves in January 2023, according to reports. The book contained numerous damaging revelations about the royal family including accusations against Queen Consort Camilla, details of physical altercations with Prince William, and intimate family conversations published without permission. The timing suggested the eviction was retaliation for the book’s contents, though official palace communications emphasized that Harry and Meghan were no longer working royals or based in Britain.
According to Omid Scobie’s book Endgame, Sir Michael John Stevens, Buckingham Palace’s Keeper of the Privy Purse, delivered the eviction notice to the couple. Prince Harry allegedly angrily called his father King Charles immediately after receiving the notice and shot back You don’t want to see your grandchildren anymore, referring to Archie and Lilibet. The emotional response demonstrated Harry’s interpretation that the eviction represented severing family ties rather than merely practical housekeeping regarding royal properties.
The palace reportedly offered Frogmore Cottage to Prince Andrew, who was facing pressure to vacate Royal Lodge, though this plan appears not to have materialized. The symbolism of evicting Harry and Meghan while attempting to accommodate the disgraced Andrew created additional controversy and accusations of unfair treatment. Critics noted that Andrew, who stepped back from royal duties following the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, maintained residence at Royal Lodge while Harry and Meghan who had repaid all renovation costs were forced to vacate.
The eviction meant Harry and Meghan no longer maintain a permanent residence in the United Kingdom, instead staying in hotels or with friends during their infrequent visits to Britain. This arrangement creates practical difficulties for visits and symbolizes the couple’s complete separation from royal infrastructure and support systems. The loss of Frogmore Cottage represented the final severing of material connections to the royal family, leaving Harry and Meghan entirely dependent on their California life with no British base to return to.
Forest Lodge: The Forever Home
In August 2025, William and Kate announced plans to move from Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge, an eight-bedroom Grade II-listed Georgian property on the Windsor Great Park estate approximately one mile from Royal Lodge. Royal sources described Forest Lodge as the couple’s forever home, with the intention to remain there even after William becomes King, representing an unprecedented approach where the British monarch would live permanently outside central London. The move is planned for early November 2025, ahead of the original Christmas target, with renovations completed faster than expected.
A royal source described the planned move as providing an opportunity for a fresh start and new chapter after difficult times at Adelaide Cottage, allowing them to leave behind unhappy memories associated with Kate’s cancer diagnosis revealed in March 2024 and her subsequent treatment throughout the year. The remarkably candid acknowledgment that royal residences accumulate emotional associations and that fresh environments support wellbeing demonstrates how William and Kate balance institutional requirements with human needs and family priorities.
Forest Lodge features eight bedrooms compared to Adelaide Cottage’s four, providing additional space for the family as the children grow older and require more privacy and independence. The property sits on extensive grounds with a private tennis court, allowing recreational activities within secure estate boundaries. A 150-acre security cordon has been created around the home in agreement with the Home Office, ensuring comprehensive protection while maintaining the family’s desired privacy and normalcy.
Similar to their approach at Adelaide Cottage, William and Kate will not employ live-in staff at Forest Lodge, prioritizing establishment of a family environment as private as possible. This represents significant departure from traditional royal household arrangements but aligns with the couple’s consistent emphasis on boundaries between work life supported by staff at Kensington Palace offices and home life where family privacy takes precedence. The decision reflects evolving approaches to royal parenting that prioritize children’s wellbeing and normal family dynamics over traditional expectations about royal living standards.
The location approximately one mile from Royal Lodge creates interesting proximity dynamics given that Forest Lodge was reportedly the couple’s compromise choice after Prince Andrew refused to vacate Royal Lodge. While William and Kate settled for Adelaide Cottage when Royal Lodge proved unavailable, Forest Lodge positions them very close to the property they originally wanted. This proximity may create awkward encounters between William and Andrew given the reported tensions over housing arrangements and Andrew’s reduced royal status following the Epstein scandal.
Royal experts predict that William will use Windsor as his official base when he becomes King, conducting royal duties from Windsor Castle while living at Forest Lodge with his family. Former royal butler Grant Harrold suggested this arrangement would make Windsor the central hub of the monarchy rather than Buckingham Palace, representing fundamental shift in how British monarchy operates. The pattern follows King Charles III’s current approach of conducting much official business from Windsor rather than Buckingham Palace, suggesting a generational trend toward prioritizing Windsor over traditional London-based operations.
The Forest Lodge move reinforces William and Kate’s commitment to raising their children with as much normalcy as possible within the constraints of their royal positions. The proximity to excellent schools, access to extensive outdoor spaces, relative privacy compared to central London, and ability to maintain clear boundaries between work and home life align with values the couple has consistently emphasized. The designation of Forest Lodge as their forever home signals William’s intention to maintain this approach even after assuming the throne, potentially transforming where and how British monarchy is based.
Comparative Analysis: Size, Status, and Symbolism
Adelaide Cottage and Nottingham Cottage occupy vastly different positions in the hierarchy of royal residences despite both being described as modest by royal standards. Adelaide Cottage’s four bedrooms, Grade II* listing, historical significance as a royal retreat built for Queen Adelaide, location in the secure Windsor Home Park, and nautical-themed principal bedroom with gilt dolphins from a royal yacht create substantially more prestige and comfort than Nottingham Cottage’s compact 1,324 square feet. The difference in square footage alone tells a significant story, with Adelaide Cottage presumably at least three to four times larger than Nottingham though precise measurements are not publicly available.
The architectural heritage differs dramatically, with Adelaide Cottage purpose-built as a royal retreat in 1831 by architect Jeffry Wyatville for a queen consort, while Nottingham Cottage was designed by Sir Christopher Wren as grace-and-favour accommodation for royal household staff rather than senior royals themselves. This fundamental distinction in original purpose influences how the properties are perceived, with Adelaide Cottage carrying inherent royal prestige while Nottingham Cottage, despite its association with multiple royals, retains connotations of more modest staff accommodation.
The locations within Windsor Home Park versus Kensington Palace grounds create different living experiences, with Windsor offering countryside tranquility, extensive green spaces, proximity to Windsor Castle, and relative isolation from public areas, while Kensington Palace provides central London convenience, proximity to cultural amenities, but constant tourist presence and urban environment. The choice between these locations reflects fundamentally different priorities, with Windsor suiting families seeking privacy and outdoor access while Kensington Palace serves those prioritizing London access and urban lifestyle.
The low ceilings at Nottingham Cottage represent a practical limitation affecting quality of life for tall residents like William and Harry, both of whom had to stoop to avoid hitting their heads. No such issues plague Adelaide Cottage, which was built with standard ceiling heights appropriate for its intended royal occupants. This seemingly minor architectural detail actually significantly impacts daily comfort and livability, making Nottingham Cottage objectively more challenging for its recent inhabitants than Adelaide Cottage has been for William and Kate.
The symbolism surrounding each cottage extends beyond physical structures to represent different narratives about royal life. Adelaide Cottage symbolizes William and Kate’s commitment to relatively normal family life, their prioritization of children’s wellbeing over traditional royal grandeur, and their willingness to downsize from grander accommodations for practical family benefits. The cottage represents continuity with royal history through its royal connections while enabling modern approaches to parenting and work-life balance.
Nottingham Cottage has become symbolic of Harry and Meghan’s grievances about treatment within the royal system, representing in their narrative inadequate accommodation that reflected their lower priority within the family hierarchy. The controversy over Meghan’s alleged reaction to the cottage’s small size and Harry’s embarrassment about IKEA furniture transformed what might have been seen as perfectly adequate accommodation into a symbol of perceived slights and inadequate status. The cottage represents in the Sussex narrative the constraints and disrespect they experienced within the royal system, justifying their eventual departure.
Media Coverage and Public Perception
Media coverage of Adelaide Cottage has generally been positive, emphasizing the down-to-earth choice by the future King and Queen to prioritize family life and children’s wellbeing over living in grand palaces. Headlines focus on the cottage’s modest four-bedroom scale, the decision not to employ live-in staff, and the historical charm of the property. The narrative presents William and Kate as relatable modern parents making practical choices that happen to align with public preferences for less ostentation in royal living, creating favorable public opinion and reducing criticism about royal privilege.
The revelation that Adelaide Cottage was not William and Kate’s first choice but rather a compromise after Prince Andrew refused to vacate Royal Lodge added complexity to this narrative. Some commentators noted the irony that the future King and Queen were forced to compromise while the disgraced Duke of York maintained a 30-room mansion despite stepping back from royal duties. However, this knowledge did not fundamentally damage public perception of William and Kate, with most coverage remaining sympathetic to the couple’s desire for appropriate family accommodation.
Media coverage of Nottingham Cottage split dramatically between earlier positive coverage when William and later Harry lived there versus the more critical coverage following Harry and Meghan’s complaints about the property. During William and Kate’s Nottingham Cottage years before moving to Apartment 1A, media portrayed the cottage as charming and appropriate for a young couple starting out, with the modest scale presented as evidence of down-to-earth values. Similar coverage accompanied the early years of Harry’s residence, with the bachelor pad narrative creating positive associations.
However, following Meghan and Harry’s Netflix series and Harry’s memoir Spare, media coverage became intensely critical of the couple’s perceived ingratitude. Headlines emphasized that Nottingham Cottage at 1,324 square feet is 60 percent larger than the average British home, that the cottage occupies grounds of one of London’s most famous palaces, and that most people would be thrilled to live in such accommodation rent-free. The IKEA furniture embarrassment particularly prompted ridicule, with commentators noting the absurdity of royals feeling inadequate about perfectly reasonable middle-class furniture.
Public opinion surveys consistently show stronger support for William and Kate compared to Harry and Meghan, with housing choices contributing to these different perceptions. William and Kate’s move to Adelaide Cottage was widely praised as sensible and family-focused, while Harry and Meghan’s complaints about Nottingham Cottage were criticized as tone-deaf and privileged. The dramatically different public reactions to similar decisions about royal housing demonstrate how media framing and the couple’s own narratives powerfully influence public perception independent of objective facts.
The contrasting coverage reflects broader patterns where William and Kate receive more sympathetic media treatment while Harry and Meghan face harsher scrutiny and criticism. Whether this represents inherent media bias, consequences of the Sussexes’ own communications strategies, or legitimate differences in behavior remains contested. However, the housing narratives clearly illustrate these different treatment patterns, with Adelaide Cottage presented as admirable downsizing while Nottingham Cottage complaints are portrayed as privileged whining.
The Brothers’ Diverging Paths
The houses William and Harry have occupied tell the story of two brothers whose lives have diverged dramatically despite similar upbringings and shared experiences. Both lived at Nottingham Cottage during bachelor years before marriage, both faced the challenges of low ceilings and compact spaces, and both eventually sought larger accommodation as their families grew. However, the paths diverged sharply from these similar starting points, with William remaining within the royal system and royal properties while Harry and Meghan ultimately rejected both.
William’s journey from Nottingham Cottage to Apartment 1A to Adelaide Cottage and soon Forest Lodge represents evolution within the system, adapting royal living arrangements to modern family needs while maintaining position as future King. Each move reflected changing circumstances and priorities within the framework of continued royal duty and public service. The properties occupied remain royal residences supported by institutional resources, with William and Kate never needing to purchase property or finance accommodations independently.
Harry’s journey from Nottingham Cottage to Frogmore Cottage to eviction and ultimately Montecito represents rejection of the system and pursuit of independence outside royal frameworks. Each move took Harry further from central royal operations, from Kensington Palace to Windsor to California, with physical distance reflecting emotional and institutional separation. The Montecito mansion represents complete independence, purchased with money earned outside the royal system and located thousands of miles from family and homeland.
The housing choices reflect fundamentally different relationships with royal identity and duty. William embraced his role as future King, accepting that housing arrangements serve institutional purposes beyond personal preference and that public funding for royal residences comes with obligations and scrutiny. Harry rejected the constraints of royal life, viewing housing assignments as reflecting family hierarchy and personal value rather than institutional function, ultimately choosing California freedom over British royal duty.
The brothers’ contrasting relationships with Adelaide Cottage and Nottingham Cottage encapsulate these diverging paths. William lives contentedly at Adelaide Cottage despite it being a compromise after failing to secure Royal Lodge, viewing it pragmatically as suitable accommodation serving family needs. Harry viewed Nottingham Cottage as inadequate and symbolic of insufficient status, with Meghan allegedly interpreting the assignment as belittling, ultimately contributing to their decision to leave royal life entirely.
The parallel stories of these two cottages and the princes who occupied them offer profound insights into how individuals navigate inherited privilege, institutional expectations, and personal desires for autonomy. William chose adaptation within the system while Harry chose escape from it, with their residences serving as physical markers of these diverging life paths. The cottage comparison illuminates the complex interplay of family dynamics, institutional pressures, media scrutiny, and personal agency that shapes modern royal life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Adelaide Cottage and Nottingham Cottage?
Adelaide Cottage is a four-bedroom Grade II* listed property in Windsor Home Park built in 1831 for Queen Adelaide, featuring historical architectural details including a nautical-themed ceiling with gilt dolphins from a royal yacht. Nottingham Cottage is a two-bedroom, 1,324-square-foot house on Kensington Palace grounds designed by Sir Christopher Wren with notably low ceilings, originally built as grace-and-favour staff accommodation. Adelaide Cottage is substantially larger, more prestigious, and located in the private Windsor estate while Nottingham Cottage is compact, urban, and situated within the working Kensington Palace complex.
Why did William and Kate move to Adelaide Cottage?
William and Kate moved to Adelaide Cottage in August 2022 to provide their three children with access to green spaces, excellent schools near Windsor, and a more normal childhood away from central London’s scrutiny. However, royal sources revealed in October 2025 that Adelaide Cottage was never their original plan—they wanted Royal Lodge but were forced to compromise when Prince Andrew refused to vacate the 30-room mansion. The couple will move to Forest Lodge on the Windsor estate by early November 2025, which they consider their forever home.
How did Meghan Markle feel about Nottingham Cottage?
According to royal author Tom Quinn’s book Yes Ma’am, Meghan reportedly felt the small cottage was a reflection of the royal family belittling Prince Harry, with a source claiming she just didn’t understand that real royals don’t care much about houses and material possessions. During their Netflix series, Meghan exclaimed that Kensington Palace sounds very regal but Nottingham Cottage was so small. Prince Harry admitted in his memoir Spare feeling embarrassed to show Meghan where he lived, though the cottage was the setting for happy early moments including their engagement.
What was the IKEA furniture embarrassment?
In his memoir Spare, Prince Harry described visiting William and Kate’s grand 20-room Kensington Palace apartment and feeling embarrassed about his own furnishings at Nottingham Cottage. He wrote about feeling embarrassed of our IKEA lamps and the secondhand sofa we’d recently bought on sale with Meg’s credit card on Sofa.com when comparing his home to William’s palatial space with priceless works of art and magnificent décor. The admission sparked criticism that Harry’s perspective was tone-deaf given that most people would be delighted to afford IKEA furniture.
How much did renovations cost for William and Kate’s Kensington Palace apartment?
The renovation of Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace cost 4.5 million pounds from the Sovereign Grant in 2013-2014, with total costs reaching approximately 12 million pounds according to royal commentator Robert Jobson. Work included removing asbestos, rewiring, replastering, installing eco-friendly systems, and comprehensive infrastructure updates to the 20-room property that hadn’t been refurbished since the 1960s. The move to Adelaide Cottage shortly after prompted controversy about value for taxpayer money, though the couple maintains Apartment 1A as their official London office and residence.
Why were Harry and Meghan evicted from Frogmore Cottage?
Harry and Meghan were asked to vacate Frogmore Cottage in February 2023, just one day after Harry’s memoir Spare hit shelves containing damaging revelations about the royal family. According to Omid Scobie’s book Endgame, Sir Michael John Stevens delivered the eviction notice, with the palace explaining that as they were no longer working royals or based in Britain, they needed to give up the keys to their royal rental. Harry allegedly called King Charles angrily asking You don’t want to see your grandchildren anymore. The couple had spent 2.4 million pounds renovating the property and repaid all costs, making the eviction particularly controversial.
What is Forest Lodge and why are William and Kate moving there?
Forest Lodge is an eight-bedroom Grade II-listed Georgian property on the Windsor Great Park estate approximately one mile from Royal Lodge where William and Kate plan to move by early November 2025. Royal sources describe it as their forever home, remaining their residence even after William becomes King. Kate described the move as an opportunity for a fresh start, leaving behind unhappy memories from Adelaide Cottage associated with her cancer diagnosis and treatment in 2024. The property offers more space than Adelaide Cottage’s four bedrooms while maintaining privacy and access to grounds for their growing family.
How big is Nottingham Cottage compared to average homes?
Nottingham Cottage measures 1,324 square feet or 123 square meters with two bedrooms and two bathrooms across two floors. This is actually 60 percent larger than the average British home of 818 square feet, making critics note that despite Harry and Meghan’s complaints about the small size, Nottingham Cottage exceeds typical housing standards for most British families. The low ceilings created practical challenges for tall residents like Harry at 6 feet 1 inch and William at 6 feet 3 inches who both had to stoop to avoid hitting their heads.
Who else has lived at Adelaide Cottage and Nottingham Cottage?
Adelaide Cottage was built in 1831 for Queen Adelaide and frequently visited by Queen Victoria for breakfast and tea. Group Captain Peter Townsend, famous for his forbidden love affair with Princess Margaret, lived there from 1944 as a grace-and-favour resident, calling it an icebox with only two radiators. Nottingham Cottage housed Marion Crawford who served as governess to young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret from 1948-1950, Prince William and Kate before moving to Apartment 1A, and Prince Harry from approximately 2013 until 2019 when he moved to Frogmore Cottage with Meghan.
Do William and Kate still use Kensington Palace after moving to Adelaide Cottage?
William and Kate maintained Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace as their official London residence and office base despite Adelaide Cottage becoming their primary family home in August 2022. The couple uses the Kensington Palace apartment for official engagements, staff offices coordinating royal duties, and occasional overnight stays when London commitments require. This arrangement means the 4.5 million pound renovation investment continues serving official functions, though the primary residential purpose has been substantially reduced, prompting some taxpayer criticism about maintaining three furnished homes including Kensington Palace, Adelaide Cottage, and privately owned Anmer Hall in Norfolk.
Where do Harry and Meghan live now after leaving Nottingham and Frogmore Cottages?
Harry and Meghan live in an 18,671-square-foot mansion in Montecito, California, purchased in June 2020 for approximately 14.7 million dollars. The property features nine bedrooms, 19 bathrooms, gym, spa, movie theater, game room, pool, guesthouse, and wine cellar on 7.4 acres. After leaving Nottingham Cottage in 2019 and briefly living at Frogmore Cottage, the couple relocated to Vancouver Island, stayed at Tyler Perry’s Los Angeles mansion, then settled permanently in Montecito. They no longer maintain a permanent UK residence after being asked to vacate Frogmore Cottage in 2023, instead staying in hotels or with friends during infrequent British visits.
What security arrangements exist at Adelaide Cottage and Nottingham Cottage?
Adelaide Cottage benefits from location in Windsor Home Park, a 655-acre private royal park accessible only with special permission, with comprehensive security infrastructure protecting the entire Windsor estate. A 150-acre security cordon surrounds Adelaide Cottage and will extend to Forest Lodge, created in agreement with the Home Office. Nottingham Cottage relies on the security infrastructure protecting Kensington Palace grounds, with armed police, CCTV systems, and controlled access points, though the central London location and constant tourist presence create different security challenges than Windsor’s relative isolation. Both properties house senior royals requiring specialized protection from the Metropolitan Police’s Royalty and Specialist Protection unit.
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