See Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Potential New Residence at Windsor Estate

Celebrity LifestyleSee Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Potential New Residence at Windsor EstateFort Belvedere is a Gothic Revival masterpiece that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge may soon call home

By Jessica Cherner

January 19, 2022

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Photo: WPA Pool/Getty Images

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As the world’s longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II has amassed quite an impressive collection of property over her 95 years. In fact, she owned some of her historic real estate before she was even born. Though Buckingham Palace is the Queen’s primary residence, she’s been spending quite a bit of time at the storied Windsor Castle, which comprises more than 1,000 rooms, 300 fireplaces, and one of the largest lots of the Royal Collection. Built by English architect Jeffry Wyatville in the 1820s, the Gothic Revival–style Fort Belvedere is one manor on Windsor Estate in which Elizabeth II never lived, and it was recently earmarked for Prince William and Kate Middleton. Though the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge already have a myriad of centuries-old homes scattered throughout the United Kingdom, they’re allegedly looking to add one more to their portfolio—the coveted Fort Belvedere.

Built in 1717 and 1723, Fort Belvedere is a storied residence that has been occupied by more than a few members of the royal family—except for Queen Elizabeth II.

Photo: Print Collector/Getty Images

The fort, which Edward, Prince of Wales, massively renovated in 1929, served as his home from the late 1920s until his abdication in 1936. Today, of course, the property still remains a part of the Crown Estate. Though the Prince of Wales’s popularity dropped significantly when he traded the throne for Wallis Simpson, he fixed up the prized Windsor residence in a way that hardly anyone else could. Between 1931 and 1932, he built a swimming pool, added a tennis court, and constructed a series of stables within the sprawling grounds. Perhaps his contemporary ideas— bathrooms and powder rooms next to almost every room, a steam room, and central heating, among others—were ahead of their time, especially considering the fact that few English homes featured any of his modern amenities.

Before he abdicated his claim to the throne, Edward, Prince of Wales, performed quite a serious renovation at Fort Belvedere, adding a swimming pool, central heating, and a slew of other contemporary elements. 

Photo: David Goddard/Getty Images

That said, nothing gold can stay, and Edward and his new American wife were forced to move out of his beloved Fort Belvedere, and it was left empty until 1955 when Elizabeth II’s cousin, Gerald Lascelles, declared the home his. About two decades later, he sold it to Canadian billionaire Galen Weston, who still lives in the seven-bedroom estate today. However, his time there may be coming to an end if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge decide to move into the 11th-century castle. Fortunately for Weston and his wife, nothing is official yet, and Fort Belvedere is still theirs—for now.

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