Fort Belvedere – the house where a King gave up the Crown may soon host another

Tucked away in the quiet, wooded reaches of Windsor Great Park, Fort Belvedere is an elegant 18th-century folly with a place in British royal history far greater than its modest footprint might suggest.

While now largely hidden from public view and shrouded in decades of quietude, the estate was once the epicentre of a constitutional crisis that rocked the monarchy – and now, it is once again making headlines.

Reports are swirling that the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their three children, are considering a move to Fort Belvedere as part of a longer-term plan to balance public duties with family life. The residence, sometimes dubbed “the forgotten royal home,” could offer the privacy and proximity to Windsor Castle the couple are said to favour, without the intense public scrutiny that accompanies London life.

Such a move would be symbolically significant and historically poignant, as the house played a dramatic role in reshaping the monarchy as we know it.

The Home of a King Who Would Not Reign

Fort Belvedere, with its castellated towers and sweeping views over Surrey and Berkshire, was originally built in the 1750s as a hunting lodge for Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, the youngest son of George II. Designed to resemble a Gothic fortress, it served as a private retreat – first for hunting, and later for contemplation – for several members of the royal family.

Its most famous resident, however, was Edward, Prince of Wales – later King Edward VIII – who took up residence there in 1929. A bachelor with modern tastes, Edward transformed the somewhat dilapidated structure into a stylish, comfortable home filled with art deco flourishes and avant-garde furniture. It became his sanctuary away from the constraints of court life, and, crucially, the setting for his deepening relationship with the American divorcée Wallis Simpson.

As their romance developed, Fort Belvedere became a place not just of leisure, but of late-night discussions and clandestine meetings. It was here, in December 1936, that Edward signed the instrument of abdication, effectively ending his reign after just 325 days as king. The choice he made – for love over duty – was seismic. The act not only changed the course of his life but ushered in the reign of his younger brother, George VI, and ultimately that of Queen Elizabeth II.

A House of Reflection

Following Edward’s departure into exile, Fort Belvedere was largely withdrawn from public and royal use. In time, it was leased to various individuals, including royal relatives such as Gerald Lascelles, the son of Princess Mary and nephew of George VI. In the post-war years, the property receded from view, becoming an almost mythical presence in the Windsor landscape.

Today, the house remains part of the Crown Estate but is not open to the public. Unlike Sandringham or Balmoral, it holds no official function, and for many decades it has served more as a historical footnote than an active royal residence.

A Modern Chapter?

Should the Waleses choose Fort Belvedere as their next family home, it would mark the beginning of a new chapter in the property’s complicated royal story. For a future king to inhabit a house so inextricably linked to abdication and controversy would not be without symbolism.

While Kensington Palace remains their official London residence, and Adelaide Cottage their Windsor base, Fort Belvedere would offer a level of seclusion rarely afforded to senior royals. It lies within the vast and protected bounds of Windsor Great Park, well away from prying eyes and tourist cameras.

Sources close to the family insist no final decision has been made. But if they do indeed settle at Fort Belvedere, it would represent a subtle, almost poetic reconciliation with a house once synonymous with royal departure. This time, perhaps, it could be a home not for stepping away from duty – but for preparing for it.