Although Prince William now holds control of Highgrove House — the former country home of his parents, King Charles and Princess Diana — it seems unlikely that he and his wife, Kate Middleton, will ever choose to live there.
Highgrove House became a significant part of royal life after Charles and Diana moved in shortly after their 1981 wedding. The property, nestled near Tetbury in Gloucestershire, was where William and Harry spent much of their early years.
When King Charles ascended the throne in 2022, the Duchy of Cornwall — which owns Highgrove — passed to Prince William as part of his new title as Duke of Cornwall. As such, William technically became the official controller of the estate.
Who Owns Highgrove House?
The property has belonged to the Duchy of Cornwall since 1980. While Charles remains a regular resident there alongside Queen Camilla, he now rents it from the Duchy, which is overseen by his son.
Despite William’s control over Highgrove, those close to the family suggest that he and Kate are unlikely to ever call it home.
Prince William and Princess Kate currently reside with their children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis — at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Home Park. The family moved there in 2022 from Kensington Palace, seeking more privacy and a more relaxed setting for raising their children.
With four bedrooms and a quieter environment near Windsor Castle, Adelaide Cottage offers a peaceful retreat — one that feels more like a personal family home than a historic royal estate.
Why Highgrove Isn’t Likely in Their Future
Speaking to OK! magazine, former royal gardener Jack Stooks shed light on the reasons behind the decision. He explained that even before Charles became king, there were already discussions about preserving Highgrove’s gardens.
“In preparation for the future, I think Charles assumed William wouldn’t move into Highgrove,” said Jack. “So the idea was to protect it. The Prince’s Foundation now leases the gardens from the Duchy of Cornwall to ensure their upkeep.”
Jack added that Highgrove holds deep personal meaning — not just for William, but as a symbol of his parents’ life together. “It was where they were brought up, where their family memories are,” he said. “It’s like the home mum and dad lived in.”
Not Fair to Kate
Another consideration is Kate herself. Jack shared his view that moving into Highgrove might place an unnecessary emotional burden on the Princess of Wales.
“To move into Highgrove would be asking Kate to step into Diana’s shoes, in a way,” he said. “That would be unfair to her.”
For now, it seems Adelaide Cottage will remain the primary residence for the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children — offering them space to create their own legacy, apart from the shadows of the past.