After the wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William, Kensington Palace became their home, along with many other royal family members. The Wales family occupied apartment 1A and lived there for many years with their three children—George, Charlotte, and Louis. The apartment spans four floors and occupies almost half of the clock tower wing. It features five living rooms, three main bedrooms, separate male and female dressing rooms, a gym, and a laundry room. The upper floors, which can be accessed by an elevator, contain nine staff bedrooms.
However, when news broke about the Princess of Wales’s cancer diagnosis, it was revealed that Kate would be undergoing treatment and recovery at the Adelaide Cottage in Windsor. It turned out that the decision to leave Kensington Palace was not solely related to Catherine’s health.
The spacious apartment had become a sort of prison for Prince William’s heirs. For the family, Kensington Palace was like an “aquarium with goldfish,” as, despite the impressive size of the residence, finding privacy from the public and outsiders was nearly impossible. Kate and William decided to move to a more secluded place, ensuring their children had the privacy they needed.
The move proved to be very timely: shortly afterward, Catherine was diagnosed with cancer, and the cottage in Windsor became a more suitable place for the princess, who had to step back from royal duties for six months, including frequent public appearances.
