The whispers began quietly, like wind slipping through the trees of Windsor Great Park. Now they’re growing louder: Prince William, Princess Catherine, and their children may be preparing to trade the charm of Adelaide Cottage for the imposing Gothic silhouette of Fort Belvedere. On the surface, it sounds like a dream—rolling lawns, shimmering lakes, a swimming pool, and enough rooms to get lost in. But this isn’t just any royal residence. Fort Belvedere comes with more than history; some say it carries a shadow.
Perched in a secluded corner of the park, the estate is steeped in both grandeur and scandal. It was here, in 1936, that King Edward VIII signed the papers that ended his reign so he could marry Wallis Simpson, an act that shook the monarchy to its core. For some, that moment alone draped the house in a sense of “bad luck.” Others go further, claiming the building’s energy feels heavy—so much so that one Feng Shui expert suggested the family should “get out the sage” and cleanse it before moving in.
Beyond the whispers of curses, there’s the undeniable appeal of the place. For the Wales children, the grounds would be a paradise—space to roam, tennis courts to play on, a pool to dive into on summer days. Its location also makes sense, being within easy reach of Eton, where Prince George may soon attend school. Privacy would be all but guaranteed; Fort Belvedere sits deep within Crown Estate land, away from prying eyes.
But the practical realities are harder to ignore. Moving in would require millions in renovations, something King Charles is said to view as unnecessary extravagance. Vast estates also come with challenges—endless upkeep, draughty halls, and the kind of scale that can make daily family life feel cold and formal. More importantly, William and Catherine have worked hard to give their children as normal an upbringing as possible, keeping their home life grounded and free from the overly opulent trappings of royalty.
There’s also timing. With Catherine’s health and the children’s schooling, stability remains a priority. Uprooting them now for a house—however grand—may not fit the rhythm the family has carefully built at Adelaide Cottage. And so the decision isn’t simply about square footage or architectural beauty; it’s about whether history, comfort, and family harmony can coexist under one roof.
Fort Belvedere may yet become their home, its long corridors filled with the laughter of the next generation of royals. Or it may remain what it has been for decades—a monument to both the splendour and the shadows of the monarchy, admired from a distance but never fully embraced.