PRINCE William is planning a move to a cottage on the Windsor estate – just as brother Prince Harry did when he married Meghan Markle.
But the two big moving days, three years apart, will be very different indeed.
The Cambridges’ new pad Adelaide Cottage needs no extra taxpayer-funded security or costly refurb.
It’s understood the family will have no live-in staff, with any aides commuting to Windsor instead.
And sources say they dream of a “modest” home with a garden so the children can play outside together.
One insider told The Celeb Report: “They were adamant they didn’t want anything too showy or anything that needed renovating or extra security so as not to be a burden on the taxpayer.”
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The property was modernised back in 2015.
It’s said to feature golden dolphins and ceiling rope decorations – all recycling from a 19th-century royal yacht – in the master bedroom.
The house has been described as “relatively modest and low-key” for a royal residence.
Kate and William’s decision to quietly pack up the furniture and move straight in is a far cry from Meghan and Harry’s move back in 2019.
The Sussexes, then awaiting the arrival of their first child Archie, spent millions of pounds – and around six months – updating Frogmore Cottage before packing up their things and moving in.
The home, a gift from the Queen for their wedding, needed a huge amount of work, with sources claiming a large number of ceiling beams and floor joists were defective.
Both the electrics and central heating needed an update, while new gas and water mains had to be installed, it’s understood.
It was reported at the time that the couple also built a ‘mother and baby’ yoga studio with sprung wooden floors and an American-style kitchen diner.
In total, they splashed £2.4million of taxpayers’ money on the Grade II-listed home – and spent just six months in it before quitting royal duty to live in California.
FIT FOR A PRINCE
The duke’s cousin Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank currently live in the swanky spot.
However, the Sussexes – who paid back the cash for the redevelopment – retain the lease on the property and recently renewed it for another 12 months, suggesting more trips to the UK are in the works.
During their return for the Jubilee, the family stayed at Frogmore.
They even hosted Lilibet’s first birthday at the property, enjoying a low-key garden picnic with friends and family.
A series of informal photos taken by family friend Misan Harriman were released to mark the occasion – giving royal fans a glimpse inside the cottage.
ROYAL RETURN
The house was decorated by Soho House designer Vicky Charles, who has worked with the Beckhams and George and Amal Clooney. Meghan and Harry visited the private clubs for some of their first dates together.
Misan’s snaps show stylish artwork, gallery-style lighting, cast iron radiators and trendy ragroll walls.
The design choices also nod to the couple’s life in exclusive Montecito, California, where they share an £11million mansion.
Both properties feature vegetable gardens and industrial-style décor – known to be a preference for Meghan.
However, in spite of the cottage’s swanky update, there’s little doubt Frogmore is significantly more understated than the Sussexes’ American home.
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The sprawling nine-bed, 16-bath mansion in Santa Barbara sits on 5.4 acres of land and features a library, office, spa, gym, game room, wine cellar and five-car garage, it’s believed.
The estate also boasts sweeping lawns, tiered rose gardens, tall Italian cypress trees, blooming lavender, olive trees, a tennis court, tea house, children’s cottage and a pool.
