Wales Residences: Kensington Palace, Adelaide Cottage & Anmer Hall

[JoanHarry]

According Wikipedia the Weston family still had a long lease on Fort Belvedere. How can the Cambridges move in then?

The leaseholder is Galen Weston, who died last year. I thought I had read that his wife Hilary had also passed away, but Wikipedia has her listed as living.

In general, from time to time the Royal Family will enquire if a leaseholder is willing to close the lease early. I believe this happened at Anmer Hall.

 

[muriel]

I can see the rationale for a place in or around Windsor for W&K. It will allow them to be close to the Queen, and be a convenient location for a weekend country home, easily accessible from London / KP. Anmer really is a long way away.

The problem, IMO, is with the Queen almost 96 now, if W&C would still use any country home at Windsor they might now potentially move to (include Fort Belvedere) in the next reign?

We are all still unclear how the royal properties might get reallocated when Charles is King: will he retain Highgrove and Windsor? If he lives at Clarence House and Highgrove, would BP and Windsor just be used as "the office"? If so, can William use a part of Windsor more permanently, and perhaps, from now?

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

I thought living at Windsor had disatvantages as well: living right under the route of Heathrow runways.

 

[muriel]

I thought living at Windsor had disatvantages as well: living right under the route of Heathrow runways.

There is that, but its not that they can actually move the castle elsewhere!

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

There is that, but its not that they can actually move the castle elsewhere!

Of course the castle is where it is, but I was more thinking about choosing between the pros and the cons of Kensington, Highgrove, Clarence, Belvedere.

Belvedere: pro is close to London and lots of privacy, con is runways of Heathrow

Highgrove: pro is lots of privacy and green, con is far away from London (or maybe 100 miles is not far with police escort)

Etc.

But of course it all are pretty luxurious "problems" to deal with. After all whole families in council estates in West London "enjoy" the Heathrow runways as well and have no any alternative.

 

[muriel]

Eton is a boarding only school so there is no need for the Cambridge's to re-locate to Windsor for him to attend as he would still have to board anyway.

If they are planning on sending their children to boarding school (and I am not convinced they are) I wouldn't be surprised if they don't choose Marlborough - where Catherine went - as it is now co-educational having changed from all boys some decades ago now while Eton is still all boys. That would have the advantage of all three children being able to go to the same school and thus same holidays etc.

> That Malborough is co-ed makes sense, as all three children can go there.

> George is a good 4.5 years away from being able to go to Eton, entry is only at 13+.

 

[royal-blue]

Taking into account the decreased number of working royals together with how hard the Cambridges are working lately, I think they deserve a third home if they so wish. Driving to Sandringham each weekend with three children is not at all practical, but it would be such a shame to give up their home in Norfolk.

 

[Iluvbertie]

They aren't going to give up their home in Norfolk. Anmer is on the Sandringham Estate which one day William and then George will actually own. That is a major reason they were given it, just as Charles has Birkhall on the Balmoral Estate as his Scottish home.

 

[Mirabel]

I thought living at Windsor had disatvantages as well: living right under the route of Heathrow runways.

I expect people soon get accustomed to the noise of the runways, and don't let it bother them (the same way people get used to traffic in the cities).

 

[Denville]

I expect people soon get accustomed to the noise of the runways, and don't let it bother them (the same way people get used to traffic in the cities).

probably within the caslte you dont hear the planes annwyay

 

[JR76]

probably within the caslte you dont hear the planes annwyay

You do hear them. It's said that on the occasions that Queen Elizabeth record speeches at Windsor they have to pause when planes go right over the castle because otherwise they'd be heard in the recording.

 

[JoanHarry]

An interesting article from Richard Kay on the “Game of Homes”

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...CHARD-KAY-examines-options-senior-royals.html

 

[padams2359]

Just MPO, if the Cambridges want to go to Windsor, Andrew could be exiled to Amner which would free up the Lodge. Still secure, smaller and probable cheaper to run, and they would not have to see him very much.

 

[Osipi]

Just MPO, if the Cambridges want to go to Windsor, Andrew could be exiled to Amner which would free up the Lodge. Still secure, smaller and probable cheaper to run, and they would not have to see him very much.

Andrew is not going to be exiled anywhere anytime soon. Regardless of his faults and foibles and misadventures and defects of character, he still remains a Prince of the UK and the monarch's second son. He also has a long lease that gives him Royal Lodge for a very long time. Even past his death. I don't see the Crown Estate reneging on that lease in effect.

I don't see any of Andrew's family members wishing Andrew exiled or thrown out of his home either. We all have family members (and we've been the family member at times) that have made grave mistakes in life but they've never turned their back on them. Love for family doesn't do that.

Andrew may never be welcomed again in a public role as a working member of the "Firm" but that doesn't mean that his family are ever going to turn their backs on him and do things to benefit themselves such as taking over his home at Royal Lodge. Not going to happen.

 

[Durham]

You do hear them. It's said that on the occasions that Queen Elizabeth record speeches at Windsor they have to pause when planes go right over the castle because otherwise they'd be heard in the recording.

Possibly this news belongs elsewhere but anyhow:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engla...sor Castle is,760m) above the royal residence.

Unsure how much this will lessen aircraft noise.

 

[Denville]

Just MPO, if the Cambridges want to go to Windsor, Andrew could be exiled to Amner which would free up the Lodge. Still secure, smaller and probable cheaper to run, and they would not have to see him very much.

Why would this happen? Andrew has a long lease on his house. He is safe there and near to his mohter. His other relatives - some may dislike him now, others may remain fond of him, even if disapproving. I harldy think that they are going to go to trouble moving him around, or trying to avoid him. The ones that dont wnat to see him, can just not visit.

 

[Denville]

You do hear them. It's said that on the occasions that Queen Elizabeth record speeches at Windsor they have to pause when planes go right over the castle because otherwise they'd be heard in the recording.

You'd think that castle walls were thick enough to keep sound out

 

[Drakes]

You do hear them. It's said that on the occasions that Queen Elizabeth record speeches at Windsor they have to pause when planes go right over the castle because otherwise they'd be heard in the recording.

You do hear them, but you don't notice them if that makes sense, and it's not every day (it depends on the direction of the wind, there's at least three different take-off flightpaths from Heathrow airport). But I can imagine that plane noise would definitely be picked up in recording.

 

[Drakes]

Possibly this news belongs elsewhere but anyhow:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engla...sor Castle is,760m) above the royal residence.

Unsure how much this will lessen aircraft noise.

Sadly it won't make any difference to commercial flights to and from Heathrow (which are authorised) - it just applies to unauthorised flights and drones in the area.

 

[padams2359]

He wouldn’t move until the Queen is gone, which unfortunately will happen sooner rather than later.

 

[muriel]

There remains quite a lot of press chatter about the Cambridge family potentially relocating to Windsor. My own thought is that already refurbished cottage on the Windsor estate probably works from a PR perspective, but perhaps, only just. Can they not find any suitable accomodation within the Castle itself?

Thoughts welcome.

 

[Denville]

There remains quite a lot of press chatter about the Cambridge family potentially relocating to Windsor. My own thought is that already refurbished cottage on the Windsor estate probably works from a PR perspective, but perhaps, only just. Can they not find any suitable accomodation within the Castle itself?

Thoughts welcome.

I dont think that there are separate apartments in Windsor, like there are in KP. So they'd probably have to renovate some rooms and make a home for them. Its probably just press chatter unless the Queen would like them to be nearer to her as she gets older and goes out less

 

[muriel]

I dont think that there are separate apartments in Windsor, like there are in KP. So they'd probably have to renovate some rooms and make a home for them. Its probably just press chatter unless the Queen would like them to be nearer to her as she gets older and goes out less

I appreciate that the castle does not have separate apartments like KP, but I am sure a collection of 8-10 rooms can be carved out for the Cambridge's.

I can see the rationale of them wanting a home away from London that is easily accessible and can be used every weekend. Anmer is a trek, and is not easily accessible.

Further, the Queen's reign is drawing to a close, and I am sure they will end up being the principal residents of Windsor in the next reign. I am sure C&C will continue with Highgrove, and probably just have an apartment at Windsor, and use it for some ceremonial engagements and entertaining.

 

[Denville]

it could be done but honestly it would probably take ages. if there is a house nearby, problaby easier to let them take that. but there's no solid evidence that they want a place in Windsor nor that the queen wants them to have one

 

[muriel]

it could be done but honestly it would probably take ages. if there is a house nearby, problaby easier to let them take that. but there's no solid evidence that they want a place in Windsor nor that the queen wants them to have one

> Its the persistent press chatter that has gone on for some time, inclduing trips to view potential schools that makes me think there may be something to the rumoured move.

> Its the optics of a "new" 3rd house house for the fgamily versus ibncreasingly spending time with Granny at Windsor that concern me.

> As reagrds the Queen, I do not believe she has asked for the Cambridge's to move to Windsor.

 

[Drakes]

Windsor Castle is a busy tourist attraction and working castle - you'd be surprised how many glimpses that tourists and locals can catch of the Royal Family, if you know where to look.

Adelaide Cottage, in common with many of the Home Park properties, can only be spotted through the trees at a distance. You can't really get anywhere near them.

A Home Park property would give a young family a lot more privacy and independence

 

[FigTree]

Windsor Castle is a busy tourist attraction and working castle - you'd be surprised how many glimpses that tourists and locals can catch of the Royal Family, if you know where to look.

Adelaide Cottage, in common with many of the Home Park properties, can only be spotted through the trees at a distance. You can't really get anywhere near them.

A Home Park property would give a young family a lot more privacy and independence

I think realistically, if they are moving, there is no chance they are giving up Amner. That is their home. They seem to have around zero connection to Kensington as a home and use it for work. Any chance they get they are off. Kensington will be kept as their work base no doubt but I guess the apartment will be left as is or they will announce they are going to use one of the cottages for overnight stays in London. To be honest though the Windsor/London commute with a motorcade is nothing. The children will get more privacy and they will probably still spend all their free time in Amner.

Harry and William didn’t really grow up at Kensington…they were at boarding school and then their Mum died. I don’t think Kate and William see boarding in their kids future at least not until they are much older or they do flexi as a teenager. Living in a tourist trap as the most famous residents will not be easy once the children get bigger. Windsor offers much more normality.

 

[royal-blue]

What is the opinion of people of the Cambridges taking on a third property? We know why they are doing so but it does seem a lot of homes. What will happen if they Move to Windsor Castle when Charles is King? Will they have to jettison theirblatest house? They will be unlikely to have lived there that long.

 

[Iluvbertie]

Are we sure they are even moving at all? Has there been an official announcement or is this the same rumour that has been doing the rounds now for over a year?

 

[muriel]

What is the opinion of people of the Cambridges taking on a third property? We know why they are doing so but it does seem a lot of homes. What will happen if they Move to Windsor Castle when Charles is King? Will they have to jettison theirblatest house? They will be unlikely to have lived there that long.

I can see the logic of the potential move, and am quite relaxed about them taking on Adelaide Cottage.

> No material public money has been spent on doing the property up just now. I understand a major upgradation of the property took place in 2015, as part of an ongoing proposal to upgrade and renew the building.

> It will allow W&C to be much closer to HM in the last days of her reign. The benefit of that cannot be understated. Not only will there be a lot for them to learn, it will help bring their office much closer and better integrated with the BP / Windsor machinery.

> If such a move happens, they will, in essence, end up with 2 homes (Adelaide Cottage and KP 1A) that are taxpayer funded. Anmer is privately owned. Whilst AC can be their main home for the next few years, they will need a place in London as they will often be in London for work, a lot of which will not be in the public gaze. Further, their offices will remain at KP, which means there will be a lot of back and forth to KP.

> I do not think AC is a long term home for them. It has been suggested that in the next reign, W&C will move to Windsor Castle. C&C will divide their time between CH/ BP (once the decade long renovations of BP are complete) and Highgrove, and will perhaps only have a nominal presence at Windsor. To me, this makes sense, given Charles' love for Highgrove. At that stage, AC will revert to being the grace and favour home it has been for royal staff.

> KP 1A has already been used by W&C since 2013 (9 years now), barring the period 2015-2017 where they spent a lot more time at Anmer while William worked there for the Air Ambulance Service. Also, in the next reign, KP 1A will continue to be the London home for the Cambridge family. I suspect their next move in London, when the time comes, will be from KP to BP. All of this will mean that W&C will have gotten a fair amount of use of KP 1A since its 2013 renovation.