Rumors are swirling that Prince William and Kate Middleton may be moving homes. British tabloids suggest the Wales family could relocate from their current four-bedroom residence at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Great Park to nearby Fort Belvedere, situated at the southern edge of the 4,800-acre Crown Estate.
While these relocation rumors should be taken lightly (Kensington Palace hasn’t confirmed or commented), they’ve brought renewed attention to the 125-year-old property.
Fort Belvedere has a rich history. Built in 1750 as a military lookout after the Scottish Rebellion of 1745, it was later transformed into a country home by King George IV in the 1820s. (Some original features remain—antique cannons still dot the grounds.) Perched on a pine-covered hill, the fort offers sweeping views of the English countryside. During Queen Victoria’s reign, the royal family often visited from Windsor Castle for afternoon tea.
In 1930, Fort Belvedere gained fame—or infamy—when it became the residence of Edward, Prince of Wales (later the Duke of Windsor), before his marriage to Wallis Simpson. Edward took great pride in renovating the estate. A 1933 article in The Illustrated London News praised his efforts, noting the carefully planned gardens and modern amenities like a swimming pool and tennis court. The Times of London described a pale green dining room adorned with landscape murals inspired by Turner’s watercolors.
Simpson later recalled the house fondly in her memoirs, calling it “the most romantic house I have ever known—a half-enchanted castle.”
After Edward’s abdication in 1936 (the papers were signed at Fort Belvedere), the property reverted to the Crown. The Duke of Windsor officially gave up his lease in 1951, and the pool was drained. Since then, it has been leased to royal family members and close associates, including Queen Elizabeth’s cousin Gerald Lascelles.
Could William and Kate be the next residents of this historic fortress-turned-country home? Only time will tell—but in the meantime, we can admire its storied past through vintage photographs.