The Prince and Princess of Wales had a secret home together during their last two years at university – and William found a way to put his own unique stamp on the property
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Prince William and Princess Kate now call Adelaide Cottage in Windsor their home. But during their last two years at St Andrews, they lived in an off-campus accommodation known as Balgove House – and the Prince installed a special feature that was perfect for their nights in socialising with friends.
At the time, the new couple were trying to keep their private life from the press, and Balgove House provided the perfect escape. The four-bedroom cottage is located at Strathtyrum, a 400-acre private country estate owned by Henry Cheape, a distant cousin of the Prince.
Not only was the property situated in a rural location, but William’s protection officers also lived nearby, while unmarked police cars patrolled the estate. And their country home, which was set behind a large wall, came complete with CCTV cameras and bomb-proof doors and windows, according to the MailOnline .
It meant that the couple could also entertain their friends at home, away from prying eyes. And with that in mind, William is said to have installed a champagne fridge to ensure chilled drinks were readily available for their guests.
Little else is known about the property’s interior, but exterior photos reveal a quirky layout for the brick home, with a black door set at an angle on one side of the L-shaped house and an annexe extending from the right-hand side. The home’s country charm is further enhanced by white sash windows and ivy adorning the building.
William and Kate now live primarily at Adelaide Cottage with their three children, George, Charlotte, and Louis.The family uprooted their life in London in the summer of 2022, relocating to Windsor in favour of a quieter pace of life.
The Prince and Princess haven’t permanently said goodbye to their London residence within Kensington Palace – they still use Apartment 1A whenever they have work commitments in the capital – but Adelaide Cottage is significantly smaller and less grand than the 20-room, four-storey apartment.
It is located on the 665-acre Windsor Home Park estate in Berkshire, and the family can walk to Windsor Castle in around 10 minutes. The 19th century, four bedroom property – which has a soft pink exterior – is also just 15 minutes away from Lambrook School , where all three Wales’ children are day students. And it also allows the family to be closer to Princess Catherine’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, who live at Bucklebury Manor in Berkshire.
William and Kate also enjoy spending time at Anmer Hall , the family’s home in Norfolk. Said to be their favourite residence, William, Kate and their children will head to Anmer as soon as school breaks up for half-term or other holidays, to enjoy private time in the countryside.
The Hall has been home to the couple ever since 2013 when they received the property as a belated wedding gift from the late Queen Elizabeth . They were still living at Kensington Palace in London at the time but Anmer Hall was conveniently located whenever they wanted to visit the late Queen and Prince Philip at Sandringham , since it is also part of the royal estate.