Prince William and Princess Kate's decision to move from Kensington Palace to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor for a more serene lifestyle, and initially to be closer to the late Queen Elizabeth II, involved several surprising adjustments.
By relocating to a four-bedroom cottage, the couple left behind several key features of their previous 20-room property. Here's a look at what they've sacrificed.
Secret Tunnels in Kensington Palace Prince William and Prince Harry were rumored to have used a hidden entrance to the palace during their childhood, such as when they secretly went out to McDonald's with their mother, Princess Diana. It's plausible that the couple utilized this discreet access during their stay at the palace.
No Live-in Staff With only four bedrooms in their new home, there is no space for live-in staff. This change would have been significant for the family, who were accustomed to having a nanny for their children on-site. It is likely that the couple still requires external childcare assistance due to their demanding and unpredictable schedules based on royal engagements.
No Separate Day and Night Nurseries Their London residence included separate day and night nurseries for Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. It remains uncertain whether the family has any sort of playroom in their current, smaller home.
No Panic Room Global Citizen reports that "Kate and William's royal apartment at Kensington Palace includes a panic room with an air filtration system, guarding against biological warfare, and an escape tunnel." Their new Windsor residence probably doesn't have such a feature. Nevertheless, stringent security measures will still be in place to protect the family.
Despite these compromises, the move to Windsor has improved the family's life, as they now enjoy country living close to Princess Kate's parents and siblings.