The Prince and Princess of Wales are raising their children in the most idyllic setting – Adelaide Cottage on the leafy Windsor Home Park Estate.
However, Kate’s first taste of royal life came in 2010 following Prince William’s proposal. Kate née Middleton, now 42, was offered Princess Diana’s iconic blue sapphire and diamond engagement ring when Prince William got down on one knee and the couple retreated to a stunning mountainside lodge that couldn’t be further from their royal cottage home.
© ShutterstockVogue reported that the Prince spent time with his new fiancé, whom he met while studying at St Andrew’s University, at the Rutundu Log Cabin on the slopes of Mount Kenya. The property is set off the beaten track – a perfect spot for those yearning for serenity and privacy.
© AlamyThe cabin, which costs £130 per night, is described as “perfect for fishermen, walkers, families, adventurers, and those simply wanting to experience the tranquility of the mountain.”
The prince was not afraid of choosing a lodge without his usual royal comforts. The property is entirely self-catered and has no phone signal – you would have to walk for 25 minutes to have any chance of calling Buckingham Palace.
Having said that, the cabin, which is described as having an Alaskan-style interior, is perfectly cosy with an open log fire and verandah for soaking in the stunning natural views.
A second Kenyan retreat
Though William is said to have flown Kate up the slopes of Mount Kenya to propose by the mountain’s glacial lakes, the Waleses enjoyed an equally romantic time at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
© AlamyThe 55,000-acre estate is a privately owned reserve home to 21 tents perfectly positioned for animal-watching.
Here guests can enjoy three-course meals and guided bush walks. Wake-up calls are far from being jolted from your slumber by a phone alarm. Guests at the Lewa reserve are treated to morning birdsong before breakfast and elephant spotting.
The couple’s Adelaide Cottage lifestyle
Leafy Windsor couldn’t be further from their beautiful engagement spot. The family of five’s royal residence is a Grade II listed candy pink cottage which formerly featured a marble Graeco-Egyptian fireplace and a ceiling covered with gilded dolphins.
© ShutterstockDISCOVER: Princess Kate and Prince William’s Adelaide Cottage home looks so different in super rare photo
The bolthole is nestled in the heart of the 655-acre Windsor estate and thus perfectly caters to Kate’s love of the outdoors – something she could have indulged in to the highest degree on her romantic Kenyan getaway all those years ago.
LOVE THE ROYALS? JOIN THE CLUB!
If you are reading this, the chances are you are obsessed with all things royalty – which is just as well because so are we! So obsessed, in fact, we’ve launched a club solely dedicated to covering them. So welcome to The HELLO! Royal Club. We would love you to join us there…
What is it?
Interactive community offering behind-the-scenes access, exclusive royal interviews, unmissable royal insights, and an illustrious royal Inner Circle.
Member benefits
- Two weekly newsletters, one from Emily Nash
- Video posts and audio notes from Emily Nash and the HELLO! Royal team
- Access to our royal community and opportunity to interact with club writers and members
- Participate in polls, comments and discussion threads
- Royal-themed puzzles with a weekly prize to be won
- Access to our Ask Me Anything sessions with our journalists
- Invitations to in-person and virtual events
- A subscription to the digital edition of HELLO! Magazine (Worth £82 annually)*
- Future ‘Inner Circle’ benefits
By royal decree
You are royally invited to join The HELLO! Royal Club – and then to go forth and spread the word to your fellow royal fans. See you in the club!
