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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Jennifer Newton

Inside Cambridges' 'modest' new Windsor home - scandalous past and huge change for George

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have long been rumoured to be mulling over a move to Windsor.

And it has been claimed William and Kate have now finally found the perfect house to settle down in with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - who are said to be starting a new school in September.

It has been reported that the Cambridges will be upping sticks from Kensington Palace and moving into the four-bedroomed Adelaide Cottage on the Queen's Windsor Estate.

A source said the family are “very keen for a modest home” and feel the downsize cottage “fits the bill”.

They told The Sun : “They were adamant they didn’t want anything too showy or anything that needed renovating or extra security so as not to be a burden on the taxpayer.

Prince William and Kate Middleton with their children George, Charlotte and Louis (UK Press via Getty Images)

“The three children will enjoy running around and playing in the gardens, which is the kind of life they enjoy so much when at Anmer Hall.

“They had no other demands than a pleasant family home close to schools and the Queen.”

So what does Adelaide Cottage look like inside and who has lived there in a past? Here we take a look...

Where is Adelaide Cottage?

Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor estate (Matrixpictures.co.uk)

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Adelaide Cottage is nestled in the heart of the Queen's 655-acre Windsor estate and is extremely close to Windsor Caste.

This means the Cambridges can pretty much pop in to see the monarch with relative ease.

The cottage was built in 1831 as a retreat for William IV’s wife Queen Adelaide, which the property is named after.

It was also known to be a favourite home of Queen Victoria as she frequently enjoyed taking her breakfast there.

What does Adelaide Cottage look like inside?

William and Kate are said to be keen on Adelaide Cottage as it doesn't require much work (Getty Images)

Adelaide Cottage underwent major renovations in 2015 - and it is said that is why William and Kate are keen on the property as it doesn't require much work.

And despite being seemingly modest by royal standards, it's interior is said to boast some seriously impressive features, including a marble Graeco-Egyptian fireplace.

Meanwhile, the master bedroom is thought to be a work of art as it has a coved ceiling that features gilded dolphins and special rope decoration made for material from the Royal Yacht Royal George.

However, there are only four-bedrooms in the cottage, one for the couple and one each for their three children.

And The Sun reports that the family will have no live-in staff begging the question where their nanny Maria Borrallo will live?

Meanwhile, according to MailOnline, the property is also relatively private thanks to its seven gated entrances and exits to Windsor Castle.

Who has lived there before?

Princess Margaret with Group Captain Peter Townsend, who lived at Adelaide Cottage (Popperfoto via Getty Images)

In recent years, Adelaide Cottage has been used as a grace-and-favour home for royal staff and family friends.

But it is also famous for facilitating one of the most scandalous royal love stories of all time.

One of the most famous former residents was Princess Margaret's love interest, Group Captain Peter Townsend.

Townsend was a dashing RAF pilot and later an equerry to King George VI as well as a married father-of-two.

His relationship with Margaret raised eyebrows due to their 16-year age gap and the fact he was a divorced man.

The news of their closeness came about when a journalist noticed her pick a piece of lint off of Townsend’s jacket at the Queen's coronation in 1953.

The pair became engaged in April 1953 but their romance was doomed by the Royal Marriage Act 1772.

This is because at the time, no member of the Royal Family was allowed to marry a divorced person while their former spouse was still living.

What do you think of the family's plans to move to Windsor? Have your say in the comment section below.

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