Prince William: MBE recipients speak after Duke gives honours

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Prince William, 39, and wife Kate Middleton, 40, split most of their time between their London home at Kensington Palace and Anmer Hall in Norfolk. However, for some time, the Cambridges were tipped to make the move to live near Queen Elizabeth II, 95, on her Windsor estate.

A source told the Mail on Sunday in 2021: “Anmer Hall made sense while William was a helicopter pilot in East Anglia and it was useful for Christmases at Sandringham, but it doesn’t really work any more.

“It’s a little too far away for weekends but Windsor is a perfect compromise.

“They are eyeing up options in the area.”

Fort Belvedere, which was built between 1750 and 1755 for Prince William Augustus, was singled out as a possible home for the Duke and Duchess.

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The property underwent an extension by King George IV.

The Hanoverian King went on to add an octagonal dining room, three-storey annex and a large flag pole.

During the reign of Queen Victoria, the monarch used the home as a tea room and even opened up the fort to the public in the 1860s.

Just over half a century later, Fort Belvedere would become the home to a rather significant member of the Royal Family.

Prince Edward, who would later become King Edward VIII in 1936, moved into the Surrey home in 1929.

He also spent £21,000 (around £1.5million today) in renovating the property.

This included adding bathrooms, a steam room, showers, central heating and built-in cupboards.

Edward also put in a swimming pool, tennis court and stables.

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However, after his relationship with American divorcee Wallis Simpson blossomed, Edward went on to pen his written abdication notices from Fort Belvedere.

Following his departure, the property was left vacant until 1955 when the Queen’s cousin Gerard Lascelles moved in.

Irish-born Canadian billionaire Galen Weston, 49, now lives at the address.

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