It is widely renowned as a peaceful yet relatively ‘modest’ Royal refuge in the grounds of the opulent Windsor Castle. 

However, when Prince William joined Schitt’s Creek star Eugene Levy on his Apple+ TV show, The Reluctant Traveler, he insisted on one key rule regarding his cherished residence.

The crew was not allowed to film at Adelaide Cottage for Mr. Levy’s series, even though the home is only a short 10-minute walk from the Castle.

Instead, the interview took place on the grounds of Windsor Castle. During this candid encounter, the Prince of Wales offered the presenter a special tour of the estate and discussed his life experiences openly.

In August 2022, Prince William and Princess Kate, along with their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—moved from London’s Kensington Palace to Adelaide Cottage.

This grade-II listed residence is conveniently close to Lambrook School, where the royal children attend, and offered a peaceful environment for Kate’s recovery after undergoing chemotherapy for her cancer treatment.

Soon, however, Kate and William plan to relocate to Forest Lodge, a stunning Georgian mansion tucked away within the picturesque 4,800-acre Windsor Great Park.

During the personal discussion with Mr Levy it was clear that William was keen to respect his children’s privacy, deliberately opting not to showcase any intimate details of their family home. 

When Prince William agreed to appear alongside Schitt’s Creek star Eugene Levy on his Apple+ TV show The Reluctant Traveler, he was adamant that the filming crew followed one strict rule related to his beloved home

There was to be no filming at Adelaide Cottage when shooting Mr Levy’s series The Reluctant Traveler, despite the four-bedroom home being just a 10-minute walk from the Castle. Instead, the candid interview took place within the grounds of Windsor Castle

According to FEMAIL personal branding expert Kelly Lundberg, author of Deseed The Lemon, William and Kate are ‘evolving’ in their approach towards privacy and how much information they publicly disclose. 

Speaking to the Mail in April about William and Kate increasingly choosing to value their children’s privacy, she added: ‘For the Prince and Princess of Wales, everything they do seems to send a message of calm, control and keeping things close to home.

‘And we’re now seeing this evolve even further, especially after Kate’s recent health challenges.

‘They chose to spend Easter quietly, away from public attention, and that’s in line with how they’ve always done things. It’s clear they’re putting their children’s wellbeing first, and trying to give them as normal an upbringing as possible, given the circumstances.’

Indeed, it may also have been a deliberate decision to shoot the series in the grounds of Windsor Castle, rather than Adelaide Cottage, in order to showcase a more regal, Royal residence, rather than a rather lived-in family home. 

Windsor Castle will also no doubt bear more relevance to a viewer, having been built in 1070, home to 40 monarchs and also a venue for many a royal wedding.

Given its unwavering prominence as a key Royal site and British attraction, it attracts around 1.4million overseas visitors each year.

Prince Harry’s 2018 fairytale wedding with Meghan Markle, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s nuptials, also in 2018, alongside the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh’s wedding in 1999, have all taken place at St George’s Chapel, located within the grounds.

Prince William and Princess Kate, alongside their three children – Princes George and Louis, and Princess Charlotte , relocated from London’s Kensington Palace to Adelaide Cottage (pictured) in August 2022

According to FEMAIL personal branding expert Kelly Lundberg, author of Deseed The Lemon, William and Kate are ‘evolving’ in their approach towards privacy and how much information they publicly disclose

While King Charles and Queen Camilla held their civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall in 2005, they also followed up with a Service of Prayer and Dedication at St George’s Chapel afterwards.

Royal writer Robert Jobson previously revealed in Catherine, the Princess of Wales: The Biography, that the move to Adelaide Cottage was primarily motivated by William’s desire to spend more time with his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, after the death of her husband Prince Philip. 

According to Jobson, an aide said: ‘[Prince William] knew his time with his grandmother was precious and he is delighted they, as a couple, made that decision.’

Mr Jobson added: ‘Catherine understood that for William, as a future king, it was important for him to be geographically closer to the late Queen in her final months, when he was required to support both her and his father.

‘It made a real difference. They were in regular contact, seeing each other in person and speaking on the phone several times a week, bringing them even closer.’

During the episode with Mr Levy, William spoke about the close connection his beloved grandmother had with Windsor Castle, explaining the impact the estate had on the late monarch. 

Explaining the intricate connection, he said: ‘For me Windsor is her. She loved it here, she spent most of her time here. Showing you around today is very much a case of trying to make sure I’m doing it in the way she’d want you to see it.

‘She had her horses here as well, as you can imagine that was a big deal for her so that’s why she loved it here.’ 

Royal writer Robert Jobson previously revealed in Catherine, the Princess of Wales: The Biography, that the move to Adelaide Cottage was motivated by William’s desire to spend more time with his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, after the death of her husband Prince Philip

During the episode with Mr Levy, William spoke about the close connection his beloved grandmother had with Windsor Castle. He said: ‘For me Windsor is her. She loved it here, she spent most of her time here’. Pictured: Windsor Castle

The relocation to Adelaide Cottage meant the family were then only a 30-minute walk or ten-minute drive from where the late Queen was residing at Windsor Castle.

They were also now nearer to Kate’s parents, who live a 45-minute car journey away in Bucklebury.

Adelaide Cottage was originally built in 1831 as a retreat for William IV’s wife Queen Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen. It was also known to be a favourite home of Queen Victoria, who frequently enjoyed taking her breakfast there. 

Having undergone major renovations in 2015, the home was especially convenient for the Wales’ because it did not require any further work or security arrangements for the family to move in.

With seven gated entrances, the 19th-century property also offers the family chances to travel in relative privacy.

The family also have no live-in staff members and instead aides commute to the house when needed.

In one rather comical moment featured in the new programme with Mr Levy, William revealed that he uses a zippy e-scooter to navigate his home. He is captured gliding effortlessly on the scooter before coming to a controlled stop and dismounting in front of the presenter. 

In a rather comical moment featured in the new programme with Mr Levy, William revealed that he uses a zippy e-scooter to navigate his home. He is captured gliding effortlessly on the scooter before coming to a controlled stop and dismounting in front of the presenter

Poll

Should Prince William and family be told to live at Buckingham Palace when he is King?

• Yes 3404 votes
• No, they should be allowed to remain at their new home, Forest Lodge, in Windsor 5424 votes
• No, but if he doesn’t live at the Palace, the private rooms should be opened to the public 5273 votes

‘This is your mode of transport?’ Mr Levy asked, to which the Prince confirmed it was while he was ‘on the grounds’. 

‘I have a very low threshold for adventure so I’ve actually never been on one,’ Mr Levy added. 

‘It gets around nicely, it’s quite fun,’ the Prince responded.

In just a matter of months, Kate and William are set to move from four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge, a Georgian mansion. 

The eight-bedroom property, though still considered modest by royal standards, is where the family plan to remain even after William becomes King. 

The Grade II listed property, nestled in a secluded spot inside the 4,800-acre Windsor Great Park, comes complete with Venetian windows and a hallway with a barrel-vaulted ceiling.  

Royal sources previously told The Mail on Sunday that the Prince and Princess of Wales were considering upsizing to a grander residence, having ‘outgrown’ Adelaide Cottage.

In the coming months, Kate and William are set to move from four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge (pictured), an eight-bedroom Georgian mansion – although still modest by royal standards – in which they plan to remain even after William becomes King

Royal sources previously told The Mail on Sunday that the Prince and Princess of Wales were considering upsizing to a grander residence, having ‘outgrown’ Adelaide Cottage. One speculated option was Fort Belvedere (pictured), the favourite home of Edward VIII

One speculated option, according to sources, was Fort Belvedere, the favourite home of Edward VIII, who lived there before he became monarch and after he abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson.

In fact, it was there that he signed the papers which sealed his infamous abdication in 1936.

The sprawling, grade II-listed property is set in 59 acres of grounds and has an outdoor swimming pool and tennis court, which sources say is particularly appealing for Kate and Charlotte, both of whom are enthusiasts.

Known as The Fort, the country house also features a rose garden, walled garden, kitchen garden, large greenhouse, stables, two lakes, paddocks and three cottages for staff. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales have also previously been linked with a potential move to Royal Lodge, the 30-room mansion in Windsor where Prince Andrew lives.

However, Andrew is understood to have resisted any pressure from the King to vacate the property.