Kate Middleton and Prince William could move to Windsor to be closer to the Queen

Kate Middleton and Prince William could move to Windsor, with their three children, in order to be closer to Her Majesty the Queen

Kate Middleton and Prince Harry smiling
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Kate Middleton and Prince William could move to Windsor, according to reports. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were considering moving their last year—but are the royal couple still considering this change in 2022?


The Queen relocated to Windsor Castle permanently, in order to be closer to her late husband, Prince Philip, and now lives in the property alone.

During the lockdown, The Queen spent most of her time at Windsor Castle, with Philip—including Christmas 2020 and Christmas 2021. 

The Queen's preference for this location makes sense as Prince Philip's funeral took place at St George's Chapel in Windsor in April and the Duke was laid to rest in a 200-year-old vault hidden underneath the chapel.

Although the Queen isn't completely alone at Windsor Castle—Her Majesty's home is close to Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex's house in Bagshot Park—it is thought that the Cambridge's were considering moving in 2021 in order to save her from loneliness.

At the time, it was thought that Fort Belvedere, a Grade II listed house, which sits towards the end of Windsor Great Park and is said to have been built in 1820, would be a top property option for the Cambridge clan.

This property has never been lived in by the Queen, but has been in the royal family for many years. In 1936, King Edward VIII, the Queen’s uncle signed his abdication papers at this property as he chose to controversially marry Wallis Simpson instead of taking the throne.

The property is now owned by the Crown Estate and leased to the Weston family, a wealthy family with close connections to the royals. 

Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere

(Image credit: Print Collector / Contributor / Getty Images)

The Duke and Duchess currently spend most of their holidays and some weekends at their home in Anmer Hall in Norfolk, with their children. The house was a wedding gift from the Queen. However, they also have a residence in Kensington Palace, London, near where the children go to school. 

A source told the Mail on Sunday that although they love their Norfolk property, the home no longer makes sense for the family.

"Anmer Hall made sense while William was a helicopter pilot in East Anglia and it was useful for Christmases at Sandringham, but it doesn’t really work anymore." 

"It’s a little too far away for weekends, but Windsor is a perfect compromise. They are eyeing up options in the area," said the source in August 2021. 

In November '21 another Royal expert, Jonathan Sacerdoti, told Express that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge could make a huge change to George and Charlotte's lives by embracing a move to Windsor.

"I think there are a number of reasons why they would want to make such a move, and absolutely proximity to the Queen is one of them," said Jonathan.

"She’s had a pretty tough year, including losing Prince Philip, and one doesn’t picture the Queen alone. She’s definitely going to be feeling a sense of solitude related to losing her husband, something that many people will be familiar with." 

"If William and Kate move to be closer to her, that could certainly help in that respect, and indeed [to have] children there."

Although it hasn't been confirmed if the couple is still considering a move in 2022, if the royal couple still decides to go ahead with this plan the couple will be much closer to the Queen as she approaches a very busy year.

Kate Middleton

(Image credit: GEOFF PUGH / Contributor / Getty Images)

The Queen's Platinum Jubilee will be taking place this year, which will commemorate the Her Majesty's 70-year reign on the throne. 

With the passing of Prince Philip and Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down as senior royals Kate and William have been taking on more royal responsibilities

So it makes sense that the royal couple—who have a senior place in the royal family because of Prince William's position in the royal line of succession—will feel the need to be closer to the Queen.

Sarah Finley

Sarah is a freelance journalist - writing about the royals and celebrities for Woman & Home, fitness and beauty for the Evening Standard and how the world of work has changed due to the pandemic for the BBC. 

 

She also covers a variety of other subjects and loves interviewing leaders and innovators in the beauty, travel and wellness worlds for numerous UK and overseas publications. 

 

As a journalist, she has written thousands of profile pieces - interviewing CEOs, real-life case studies and celebrities - interviewing everyone from Emma Bunton to the founder of Headspace.