Prince William and Kate's Unconventional Royal Sleeping Arrangements
The Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince William and Kate Middleton, are known for keeping their domestic life largely private. However, intriguing details about their living arrangements at Kensington Palace have emerged, revealing rather unconventional sleeping habits for the royal couple.
Ground Floor Bedroom at Kensington Palace
Contrary to typical couple arrangements where bedrooms are situated upstairs, the Waleses' main bedroom in Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace is positioned on the ground floor. This apartment, which previously belonged to Princess Margaret, boasts twenty rooms spread across four floors, complete with a private lift, gym facilities, and nine staff quarters.
The late royal author Christopher Warwick provided context about why these residences are called "apartments" during an appearance on True Royalty's Royal Beat. He explained that Kensington Palace is structured around three courtyards, with these apartments resembling interconnected red brick terrace houses rather than conventional flats.
Multiple Royal Residences
The royal couple, who have faced challenging times following Kate's cancer diagnosis alongside King Charles's health concerns, maintain access to several properties. They currently reside at the eight-bedroom Forest Hall in Windsor, having moved there last year from their previous Windsor home at Adelaide Cottage.
Adelaide Cottage, constructed in 1831 as a retreat for Queen Adelaide, consort of King William IV, sits within the Crown Estate's private 655-acre Royal park. This historic property served as a cherished breakfast spot for Queen Victoria and was once home to Group Captain Peter Townsend, whose romance with Princess Margaret caused considerable controversy due to his divorced status and age difference.
Following extensive refurbishment in 2015, Adelaide Cottage features lavish interior design, including a principal bedroom ceiling adorned with gilded dolphins and ornate rope detailing. There was brief speculation after Prince Harry and Meghan's 2018 wedding that the cottage might become their Windsor residence, appreciated for its privacy and proximity to London.
Family Life and Privacy
The Princess of Wales remains dedicated to her role as wife to Prince William and mother to their three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. While the family maintains multiple residences including Anmer Hall in Norfolk, their unconventional sleeping arrangement at Kensington Palace offers a rare glimpse into their private domestic preferences within their public royal lives.
