The Prince and Princess of Wales are raising their children in an idyllic setting at Adelaide Cottage on the lush Windsor Home Park Estate. However, Kate’s introduction to royal life began in 2010 after Prince William proposed to her.
Kate, née Middleton, now 42, was given Princess Diana’s iconic blue sapphire and diamond engagement ring when William got down on one knee. The couple then retreated to a breathtaking mountainside lodge, a far cry from their royal cottage home.
According to Vogue, the Prince and his new fiancée, whom he met while studying at St. Andrew’s University, spent time at the Rutundu Log Cabin on the slopes of Mount Kenya. This secluded property, perfect for those seeking serenity and privacy, is nestled off the beaten path.
The cabin, costing £130 per night, is described as ideal for fishermen, walkers, families, adventurers, and anyone looking to experience the tranquility of the mountain.
The Prince was unbothered by the lack of usual royal comforts, as the property is entirely self-catered and lacks phone signal—you’d have to walk 25 minutes to find any chance of contacting Buckingham Palace.
Despite its simplicity, the cabin, with its Alaskan-style interior, is wonderfully cozy, featuring an open log fire and a verandah for taking in the stunning natural views.
Though William is said to have flown Kate up the slopes of Mount Kenya to propose by the mountain’s glacial lakes, the couple also enjoyed a romantic stay at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
This 55,000-acre estate, a privately-owned reserve, boasts 21 tents perfectly positioned for wildlife watching. Guests here can savor three-course meals and guided bush walks, with wake-up calls coming not from alarms but from the morning birdsong, followed by breakfast and elephant spotting.
The family of five’s current royal residence at Windsor is a Grade II listed candy-pink cottage, once adorned with a marble Graeco-Egyptian fireplace and a ceiling decorated with gilded dolphins—a stark contrast to their enchanting engagement getaway.
The bolthole is nestled in the heart of the 655-acre Windsor estate and thus perfectly caters to Kate’s love of the outdoors – something she could have indulged in to the highest degree on her romantic Kenyan getaway all those years ago.
