As Anglophiles, there is no end to our fascination with how royals live, and even more so with those who marry into the firm. Born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, the now Princess of Wales once resided in a rather charming house on the outskirts of London, so we decided to take a whistle-stop tour.
While her childhood was vastly different from being raised in a palace or stately royal residences like her husband, the Prince of Wales, and children, Kate lived an idyllic life in many expensive homes in sought-after Berkshire.
Kate Middleton's parents, Carole Middleton and Michael Middleton
West View
It was West View where Kate, born in 1982, started her young life. After marrying in 1980, Kate Middleton’s parents, Mike and Carole, purchased West View (below), a 2-bedroom semi-detached home for £34,700 ($43,600), in Bradfield, Southend, just outside the large town of Reading. It was in this very home that Kate Middleton, the former Duchess of Cambridge, spent the early years of her childhood.
Princess Kate attended Bradfield Church of England primary school which was just next door and also attended Brownies at the church hall nearby.
Kate Middleton's childhood home in Bradfield Southend, Berkshire
Oak Acre
The couple sold the house in 1995 for £158,000 ($189,000), and soon after moved into Oak Acre (below), in Berkshire.
The English-style red brick exterior, Georgian-style windows, and pointed roofs are all in keeping with the surrounding Berkshire area. The property also sits on one-and-a-half acres of grounds.
The picturesque Berkshire location even ranked higher than Windsor in a recent 'Best places to live in England' list. There are also two Michelin-starred restaurants in the prestigious area – the Blackbird and the Woodspeen.
Then in 2012, Carole and Michael bought Bucklebury Manor (below), in the bucolic surrounds of Berkshire, for £4.7 million ($5.9 million) in order to seek more privacy once their daughter was welcomed into the royal family.
Carole and Michael Middleton's home between 1995 and 2012, Oak Acre in Berkshire
Bucklebury Manor
Bucklebury Manor is a Grade II listed house in the village of Bucklebury. The Georgian house sits on 18 acres of grounds. It's a Regency-style house, built originally for the Winchcombe family.
While it's not where Catherine, James and Pippa grew up, it does count as the family home now. During Kate's teenage years, she was between Bucklebury, Marlborough College and Downe House, though she did not board at the latter.
The expansive property features seven bedrooms, five reception rooms, a kitchen, a drawing room, a dining room, library, sitting room, and an entrance hall.
The 18 acres around the property also include stunning gardens, a tennis court, and a swimming pool. This made the home the perfect place to host Kate's sister, Pippa Middleton's, wedding reception when she married James Matthews in 2017.
It is reported Prince William and Princess Kate recently spent Boxing Day at Bucklebury Manor with the Middletons after celebrating Christmas with the rest of the Royal Family in Sandringham.
FAQs
Where does Kate Middleton live?
Kate Middleton, 41, now lives in a four-bedroom home, Adelaide Cottage in Windsor with Prince William, 40, Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, four.
Adelaide Cottage is one of many houses used by senior royals who wish to maintain a semblance of privacy in their personal lives.
The 19th century, grade II listed cottage is famously one of the most private of the royal houses, with very few pictures of the exterior of the cottage to be found and no cameras allowed inside of the home.
A painting of Adelaide cottage
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