Fort Belvedere explained: Inside the Windsor Great Park home linked to Prince William and Kate Middleton
Rumors say the Prince and Princess of Wales could move again. This time the chatter points to Fort Belvedere. It sits inside Windsor Great Park, not far from their current base at Adelaide Cottage.
There is no official confirmation yet. Reports stress that the talk is unconfirmed.
So what is Fort Belvedere? It began life in the 1750s as a hilltop lookout/folly designed by Henry Flitcroft at the southern edge of the park. In the 1820s it was rebuilt as a country house by Sir Jeffry Wyatville (who also oversaw the redesign of Windsor Castle under George IV). The mix explains why the place looks like a small fortress on the outside and a family home within.
The site has long views across the estate - hence the name Belvedere, 'beautiful view.' The grounds run to about 59 acres, with gardens, water features, a pool and a tennis court.
Queen Victoria used to ride out for tea here. Later the house opened to visitors for a time in the 19th century. It returned to private use in the 20th century.
The best-known resident was Edward VIII. He moved in while Prince of Wales, and he kept it after he became king.
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Undo
The house became the stage for a defining royal moment. On 10 December 1936, he signed his abdication papers at Fort Belvedere. The decision cleared the way for his brother to become George VI and changed the line of succession.
Edward also treated the place like a true home. He added a swimming pool and other upgrades in the 1930s. Contemporary reports admired the gardens and the layout. They read like a tour of a private retreat rather than a state site.
After the abdication the fort fell quiet. It later passed to new tenants on long leases from the Crown Estate. In the early 1980s the lease went to the Weston family, who still hold it today. The freehold remains with the Crown Estate, so the property is private and not open to visitors.
Why would the Wales family want it now? Space and privacy are the obvious draws. The plot is large. There are outbuildings that could house security and staff.
The location keeps the family close to schools in the area and to Windsor Castle. It also sits inside a controlled park, which helps with movement and protection. Any move would also require an arrangement with the current leaseholders.
There is also the emotional layer. The house carries heavy royal history. Some will see that as a reason to stay away. Others will see it as a link to the past that can be given a new chapter.
Either way, it would be a move into a building that has already shaped the story of the monarchy.
What happens next is simple. The talk may fade, or a move may take shape. Until there is a formal statement, treat it as a possibility, not a plan. Fort Belvedere will remain a curiosity for many - a rare mix of folly, family house, and royal landmark, tucked behind the trees of Windsor Great Park.
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