'It was so isolated', Kate Middleton says of the secluded but beautiful rental she lived in as a first-time mom
The Princess addressed her time living in a $930 per month rental on a Welsh island – and the hardships of being a new, isolated mother
Prince William and Princess Catherine famously reside in three of the most beautiful properties in the United Kingdom – but they also have spent time in some lesser-known properties – including Bodargan Estate in Anglesey, Wales.
From 2010, the former Duke and Duchess rented a four-bedroom farmhouse – located in the southwestern quarter of the Welsh island. Their stay included time in 2013, following the birth of their first son, Prince George.
Despite access to royal residences, the couple rented from local landowners Lord and Lady Meyrick, paying approximately $930 per month (£750) while William worked at the RAF's north Welsh base. The Prince has formerly described the home as an 'immensely special place'; however, Princess Catherine has admitted that she found it isolating after returning with her first newborn.
'I was chatting to some of the mums, I had just had George, and William was still working with search and rescue, so we came up here when George was a tiny, tiny little baby in the middle of Anglesey,' the Princess shared during a visit to a children's center in Cardiff.
'It was so isolated, so cut off, I didn't have my family around me; he was doing night shifts, so if only I'd had a center like this at a certain time.'
Little more is known about the white farmhouse where the couple lived during their engagement and as newlyweds. However, the home was said to have a locally-sourced Welsh slate roof and a view overlooking the Irish Sea and the nearby Eryri mountains. It is likely a world away from the couple's London base, Kensington Palace, that alongside its grandeur, is notably right in the heart of London.
In contrast, when speaking of his time in the Welsh cottage, Prince William announced that their first home was an 'immensely special place' for the couple. 'Catherine and I look forward to returning again and again over the coming years with our family,' he said during a speech at the Anglesey show.
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'I know that I speak for Catherine when I say that I have never in my life known somewhere as beautiful and as welcoming as Anglesey.'
The couple now lives in Adelaide Cottage, located in Windsor Home Park just east of Windsor Castle with their three children – but will no doubt visit Anglesey as a larger family sometime again soon.
In the meantime, we're reading up on this family, and their lives, via the book below.
LIFE Prince William & Kate – $13.78 on Amazon
Featuring family photos taken by Princess Catherine, this book reflects on the couple’s early years, teenage years, their growing romance, and their roles as future rulers of the United Kingdom.
Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes, before becoming H&G's News Editor in April 2022. She now leads the Celebrity/ News team. Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US while studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site. She currently lives in London with her antique typewriter and an expansive collection of houseplants.
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