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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Jennifer Newton

Prince William and Kate Middleton's Windsor move - 'modest' home and new schools

For almost a year now, it has been claimed that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are eyeing up a move to Windsor.

Reports have long circulated that they are ready to quit Kensington Palace in favour of a move to Berkshire and just use it as a working base.

Of course, a move away from London would mean new schools for their older children Prince George and Princess Charlotte, who are currently educated in the capital.

Some reports have suggested that they could even start at a new school at the start of the new academic year in September - which would make today their last day at their current school St Thomas's Battersea.

Prince William and Kate Middleton with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis (KENSINGTON PALACE/AFP via Getty)

But what do we currently know about the Cambridges' supposed big move? Here we take a look...

Closer to the Queen

Making the move from London to Windsor would be a huge step for William and Kate and their family.

But one royal insider told the Daily Mail that the relocation is due to William wanting to be closer to the Queen as she continues to delegate additional royal duties to him.

William is said to speak to his grandmother, who pretty much spends all of her time at Windsor Castle now, on the phone several times a week.

The Cambridges with the Queen (Getty Images)

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The insider said: "It's one of the things that has hastened their move to Berkshire this summer. Losing the Duke of Edinburgh has a left a big hole in all their lives. He was a great counsel to William and he feels very protective of his grandmother."

The insider added that, as an increasingly central figure in the royal family, William "is always checking in with her to make sure she understands why things are happening in a certain way", not least because he and Kate "want to do something different to the traditional model".

But it's not just the Queen that the Cambridges will be closer to in Windsor - they would also be much closer to Kate's parents Carole and Michael, who live in the Berkshire village of Bucklebury.

'Modest' new home

Adelaide Cottage is close to Windsor Castle (Getty Images)

Of course, a move to Windsor means finding a new place to live - and reports have suggested the family are keen on a property on the Windsor estate called Adelaide Cottage.

A source said the family are “very keen for a modest home” and feel the downsized cottage with four bedrooms “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."

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

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

William and Kate at Windsor Castle last month (Getty Images)

It 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.

Office and country retreat

But despite the reported plans to stop living at Kensington Palace, it is thought the couple would retain it as their London base and the place their staff work.

In addition, they are also believed to be keeping Anmer Hall, their country retreat in Norfolk as it is a place they love spending quality family time at.

School moves

Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte in the carriage procession at Trooping the Colour (WireImage)

Not only has it been reported that William and Kate have been eyeing up properties in Windsor, it is also claimed they have been looking at schools for their children.

It is believed George and Charlotte will start a new school in September while four-year-old Prince Louis will also join them.

According to the Daily Mail, the front-runner in the race to be George's new school is Lambrook, near Ascot.

It reports that William and Kate have been seen visiting the school "multiple times" - with William even chatting to one pupil about Latin classes.

The co-educational school charges up to £7,000 a term - plus a further £1,481 for boarding - and many of its leavers eventually head off other schools including Eton.

The fact that it caters for boys and girls means Charlotte and Louis could both also attend the school.

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