The Prince and Princess of Wales are eyeing a move to a grand new family home after feeling they have "outgrown" Adelaide Cottage.
Princess Kate and Prince William have spent the last three years with their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, living in the four-bedroom house on the grounds of Windsor Castle.
As their children grow older, with George set to begin secondary education next year, the couple are seeking to upsize from the relatively modest Adelaide Cottage.
"They feel they have outgrown Adelaide Cottage and need somewhere more substantial," a source close to William and Kate explained.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are eyeing a move away from Adelaide Cottage
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To that end, the couple are thought to be keen on the palatial Fort Belvedere, tucked away in a secluded part of Windsor Great Park.
The grade II-listed gothic-revival mansion, known colloquially as The Fort, was built in the 18th century and comes with a sprawling 59 acres of grounds.
Fort Belvedere also hosts luxury amenities like an outdoor swimming pool and tennis court, something particularly attractive to the sporty Waleses.
"This is the perfect new home for them. It has a swimming pool and tennis court, and Charlotte loves playing tennis," the source to the Mail on Sunday.
The Waleses believe they have 'outgrown' their family home with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis
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As well as the sports facilities, The Fort’s grounds are also home to two a walled garden, rose garden, kitchen garden, two lakes and three staff cottages. The property also has a stable and paddocks for horses.
Fort Belvedere boasts a robust royal history, once being home to Edward VIII before he became King and after his abdication to marry Wallis Simpsons.
It was in one of the mansions great rooms where he officially signed away his Crown in his 1936 abdication.
The mansion had once been used as a summer tea house by Queen Victoria and was rescued from falling into disrepair by Edward VIII.
Kate and William are believed to have their eye on the palatial Fort Belvedere
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It was he who installed many of the modern property’s most opulent amenities before Queen Elizabeth’s cousin, Gerald Lascelles, later took over – turning it into an eight-bedroom home.
In a further nod to historical ties, the building’s battlements are lined with cannons used during the Jacobite uprising.
William and Kate are understood to be carefully weighing up the options of upscaling, but a move from Adelaide Cottage is not imminent.
The couple had been previously mooted for a move to the Royal Lodge, the 30-room mansion currently home to Prince Andrew.
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The Fort had once been home to King Edward VIII, before and after his abdication, and Wallis Simpson
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However, the Duke of York has resisted pressure from King Charles to vacate the property and has remained in place.
Another option considered was moving the Waleses into a wing of Windsor Castle, but this is no longer considered viable.
The Prince and Princess first moved into Adelaide Cottage in August 2022, just weeks before the death of Queen Elizabeth in Balmoral.
Adelaide Cottage is a short walk from Windsor Castle and quick drive to Lambrook School, which George, Charlotte and Louis attend.
Their home also provided a secluded refuge for Princess Kate during her cancer battle in 2024.