In a surprising and heartfelt decision, the Prince and Princess of Wales made a major lifestyle change in 2022. They decided to leave their grand London residence, Kensington Palace, for a much smaller, more modest home—Adelaide Cottage. While the cottage is simpler by royal standards, it is located within the Royal Windsor Castle estate, allowing the family to enjoy a quieter, more private life. This move was aimed at giving their children a more normal upbringing, away from the public eye and the pressures of royal life.
However, just recently, the family was shaken by a frightening security incident. Late one night, at around 11:45 p.m., two masked thieves broke into the estate, targeting a nearby farm. The thieves, who climbed a six-foot fence and tried to steal farm vehicles, smashed through a security gate with a stolen truck as they made their escape. It is believed the criminals had been watching Windsor Castle for some time before carrying out the raid. Thankfully, King Charles and Queen Camilla were not staying at Windsor during the break-in, but Prince William, Princess Catherine, and their children were nearby on the estate. The police are still investigating, and no arrests have been made yet, but the whole family must have been frightened by the intrusion so close to their home.
Despite this unsettling incident, William and Catherine have remained focused on providing a grounded and hands-on upbringing for their children. One of the reasons they moved to Adelaide Cottage was to provide more space and privacy for their children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—so they could grow up in a more normal environment. Even though they are part of royal events like King Charles’s coronation and the Trooping the Colour parade, they also live fairly ordinary lives. The children enjoy activities like riding bikes, playing games, and jumping on the trampoline, just like any other kids.
In addition, the royal children help out with household chores. Even the future King of England, Prince George, has to tidy his room and do his part around the house. With no live-in staff at Adelaide Cottage like there was at Kensington Palace, the children are responsible for their chores in exchange for pocket money. William and Catherine want to instill a sense of responsibility in their children despite their royal status.
This emphasis on normalcy might explain the down-to-earth aspirations of George, Charlotte, and Louis. For example, Prince George, who is second in line to the throne, once told a restaurant owner that he would like to work in a pizza place. This revelation came after seeing a pizza oven in a restaurant near their Norfolk home, and it quickly gained attention. Princess Charlotte, at just nine years old, has expressed an interest in becoming a nurse. Her parents say she is a caring little girl, so they wouldn’t be surprised if she pursued this passion in the future. As for Prince Louis, during the King’s coronation weekend, he mentioned he would like to be a fighter pilot one day—much like his father, Prince William, who has a deep love for flying planes.
The Wales family’s decision to downsize and move to Adelaide Cottage was partly to be closer to the late Queen Elizabeth, but it also allowed them more space and privacy. The cottage, with its four bedrooms, doesn’t accommodate live-in staff, so the family enjoys spending more time together without being constantly observed. Some staff do come during the day to help, but for the most part, it’s just the five of them. The family has reportedly been very happy with their decision and loves living in Windsor Home Park, where they can enjoy a much quieter, more relaxed life, away from the hustle and bustle of royal duties. The decision to downsize from the grandeur of Kensington Palace seems to have been well worth it for the Wales family.
