The storied Windsor Castle comprises more than 1,000 rooms, 300 fireplaces, and one of the largest lots of the Royal Collection. Built by English architect Jeffry Wyatville in the 1820s, the Gothic Revival–style Fort Belvedere is one manor on Windsor Estate in which Elizabeth II never lived, and it was recently earmarked for Prince William and Kate Middleton. Though the Prince and Princess of Wales already have a myriad of centuries-old homes scattered throughout the United Kingdom, they’re allegedly looking to add one more to their portfolio—the coveted Fort Belvedere.
It’s not a long journey for the move, as the family already live on the Windsor estate in the more modest Adelaide Cottage. It it said that they moved into the four-bedroom 19th-century cottage back in 2022 to be closer to Middleton family’s home in Bucklebury, Berkshire.
But now, it might be time for an upgrade. Royal sources told The Mail on Sunday that the prince and princess are considering upsizing to a grander residence.
Built in 1717 and 1723, Fort Belvedere is a storied residence that has been occupied by more than a few members of the royal family—except for Queen Elizabeth II.
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The fort, which Edward, Prince of Wales, massively renovated in 1929, served as his home from the late 1920s until his abdication in 1936. Today, of course, the property still remains a part of the Crown Estate. Though the Prince of Wales’s popularity dropped significantly when he traded the throne for Wallis Simpson, he fixed up the prized Windsor residence in a way that hardly anyone else could. Between 1931 and 1932, he built a swimming pool, added a tennis court, and constructed a series of stables within the sprawling grounds. Perhaps his contemporary ideas— bathrooms and powder rooms next to almost every room, a steam room, and central heating, among others—were ahead of their time, especially considering the fact that few English homes featured any of his modern amenities.
All the houses that Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, has lived in
Before he abdicated his claim to the throne, Edward, Prince of Wales, performed quite a serious renovation at Fort Belvedere, adding a swimming pool, central heating, and a slew of other contemporary elements.
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