Since the death of Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles’ rise to the throne, The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children have undergone several changes. One significant shift was their relocation from London to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Estate, taking with them Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
Previously, the family lived in Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace but chose to move to provide their growing children with more space. The idea that the West London palace is restrictive for young royals isn’t new; it’s where Queen Elizabeth famously experienced severe limitations during her first 18 years.
Now settled in Adelaide Cottage, nestled within the Crown Estate’s vast 655-acre Royal park, the Wales family enjoys much more privacy than at Kensington Palace. Ingrid Seward, a Royal biographer and Editor-in-Chief of Majesty Magazine, pointed out another advantage of the move.
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Ingrid commented: “Kensington Palace is a glorious prison for kids – they want to be able to play football without being watched from behind the gates.”
Speaking to The Sun before the relocation, the royal watcher added: “I think Windsor will be perfect for them, as they will have lots of freedom and they can all be at school together.”
Kensington Palace, once home to Diana, Princess of Wales, Prince William and Prince Harry, has previously been criticised for not being a child-friendly residence, reports the Mirror.
Queen Victoria, one of the palace’s most famous residents, was subjected to numerous restrictions before she became queen in 1837.
These rules, known as ‘the Kensington System’, were enforced by her mother’s strict Comptroller, Sir John Conroy.
The system forbade the young princess from reading popular literature, spending time alone without her tutor or governesses, or walking downstairs unaccompanied by an adult.
These restrictions aimed to weaken Princess Victoria and make her dependent on her mother and Conroy, thereby reducing the chance of her aligning with her European relatives and the House of Hanover. However, their plans were unsuccessful, as Victoria refused to sign a regency order and ascended to the throne just before her 18th birthday.