Reportedly, Queen Elizabeth just gifted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with the ultimate wedding present: a house. The piece of property is reported to be Adelaide Cottage – although cottage is a bit of a misnomer, given the home’s sprawling nature.
Located in the Home Park inside the walls of Windsor Castle, it was originally built back in 1831 as a retreat for William IV’s wife, Queen Adelaide, and has since stayed within the royal family with a whole host of inhabitants, including Group Capt. Townsend, equerry to King George VI.
His relationship with Princess Margaret would later be tabloid fodder after their love went public in 1952. Most recently, Simon Rhodes, the son of Queen Elizabeth’s cousin and best friend Margaret Rhodes, lived on the property.
The Cottage underwent major renovations in 2015, though it has notably retained much of its original charm, including a coved ceiling with gilded dolphins and rope ornament from a 19th Century Royal yacht in the master bedroom. There is also a marble Greco-Egyptian fireplace.
The property is conveniently close to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh’s private apartments and just a few miles away from the Guards Polo Club, where Harry frequently visits. There are seven gated entrances and exits to Windsor Castle, so privacy is not an issue. In addition to the property, Harry and Meghan have several other home options.
They signed a two-year lease for WestfieldLarge, a home in the Cotswolds a few months back, and will likely make their primary residence Nottingham Cottage, a two-bedroom home that sits on the grounds of Kensington Palace. “Nott Cott,” as it’s affectionately known, has been under construction since last fall.
