S Poddar
Britain’s Prince William and Princess Kate, known for their commitment toward family, did something which few were expecting: an unexpected decision that seems to reflect the desire to give a balanced upbringing for three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Little makes more sense when considering how much the royal couple would have to be burdened by the future prospects of becoming king and queen. This, however does not mean that they should take away even the most minute sense of normalcy from their children’s life. Relocating to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor is testimony to this, as many await an unexpected approach to living as royalty.
One of the most important moves in 2022 was their decision to leave the busy, historic residence of Kensington Palace in London for a quiet life at Adelaide Cottage. This ensured they were more proximate to Queen Elizabeth II while living a relatively quieter life. Adelaide Cottage is not one of those that accommodate live-in staff like Kensington Palace; thus it provided a more private and self-contained environment for the family. The couple who have made their personal handling of school runs with the children some sort of hallmark of their career as parents have signalled that they intend to do a lot more to shape their children far from the unnecessary dependency on royal aides or gilded surroundings.
Royal expert Duncan Larcombe pointed out that this was an unusual choice, noted: “I think they surprised a lot of people when they moved there.”. There are plenty of other places they could have moved to, but Adelaide Cottage fits well with the desire that they have now as parents to be a normal family. There aren’t servants, and they don’t have 30 rooms, so William would much rather have his kids around him in the rooms next door where he’s sleeping.
Privacy and the chance of life behind closed doors can be found in Adelaide Cottage, deep inside the peaceful Windsor Home Park, for the family. The four-bedroom house, although not as imposing as most of their royal estate, obviously allows for a far more ordinary life than that which the children are used to. As another royal commentator put it, Katie Nicholl, “They are very, very happy there.”. Being able to live in the middle of Windsor Home Park, where they are not overlooked and come and go in complete privacy, makes this downsize from Kensington Palace worth it on every level.
This move marks another dig in the dirt for William and Kate as they continue to insist on being a family of their own making. They have continually proved that when push came to shove with their child and that parental aspect of which more than the royal part took priority. This philosophy extends to parenting their offspring such that they learn responsibility. Reports indicate pocket money for the little ones, George, Charlotte, and Louis, is earned through contributions made toward helping with household chores in a sense of responsibility that doesn’t very often abound in royal families.
The move has been defined as a strategic decision as much for the family’s benefit as it is a statement about their values: a smaller house with no live-in staff is a decision that will confirm the roles and responsibilities of the Prince and Princess of Wales while still keeping things everyday. “There’s not a huge amount of space, but Adelaide Cottage ticks all the right boxes,” Nicholl said.
The couple is choosing Adelaide Cottage to reflect their dreams for bringing up their children: living a life that integrates their royal heritage with life lessons associated with being grounded on the ground. The building of such an environment that allows this to be achieved in terms of privacy and simplicity makes William and Kate redefine what the modern idea of a life being led by the royal family entails. Taking the decision to leave the opulence of Kensington Palace and settle in something much cozier indicates a commitment to creating an intimate, authentically close-knit family ambience. Such a move has resonated not only with royal watchers but also allowed for a wonderful precedent to put family above everything else.
