When it comes to residences owned by the Royal Family, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Kensington Palace are likely the first that come to mind, but what about the others?
Queen Elizabeth always held a special affection for the Windsor Estate in Berkshire, where she lived most of her life.
However, there is one property on the estate where the Queen never lived, despite its remarkable historical connections.
Fort Belvedere is a Royal residence constructed between 1750 and 1755 for Prince William Augustus, situated in Windsor Great Park.
According to a report in The Mail on Sunday, the Prince and Princess of Wales are considering a move there from the more modestly sized Adelaide Cottage.
Finished in the architectural style of Gothic Revival, the residence was affectionately known as ‘The Fort’ by numerous members of the Royal Family.
The property was significantly expanded by King George IV who added an octagonal dining room, a three-storey annex and a large flag pole.
Queen Victoria later used the home as a tea house and opened it to the public in the 1860’s.
While it rarely had a permanent resident for many years, in 1929 the fort found its most famous occupant and became the setting for one of the most renowned moments in British history.
Prince Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII and The Duke of Windsor) moved into the home and renovated it at a total cost of £21,000 (£1.49 million today).
He added numerous bathrooms, a steam-room, showers, built-in cupboards and central heating.
The prince undertook significant renovations to the extensive grounds, adding a swimming pool, a tennis court, and stables at the residence.
Fort Belvedere became the backdrop for his notorious affair with Mrs Wallis Simpson, who took up permanent residence there in 1936.
Upon inheriting the throne in January 1936, Prince Edward was swiftly confronted with the dilemma that he could not both reign as king and wed Wallis Simpson, due to her status as a twice-divorced American.
The monarch made the decision to abdicate, paving the way for his brother to ascend the throne as King George VI.
During the abdication crisis, he held numerous discussions with Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin but ultimately executed his written abdication notices at the fort.
After Edward vacated the property, it remained empty until 1955 when Gerald Lascelles, the Queen’s cousin, took up residence. The home changed hands again in 1976 and was later leased to Canadian billionaire Galen Weston, who resided there until his death in 2021.
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