Who Lives Where at Kensington Palace: From Harry’s Notts Cottage to the Duchess of Kent’s Flat

Kensington Palace, one of Britain’s oldest royal residences still in use, continues to function as a live-in complex for a spectrum of royals and royal-adjacent residents. Since its purchase and initial remodeling in 1689 by William III, the palace has evolved from a favorite monarch’s residence to a central hub for royal and related life in central London. While Buckingham Palace often dominates headlines, Kensington’s varied apartments, cottages, and outbuildings remain home to a number of senior royals and long-standing figures connected to the royal household. A recent Daily Mail overview assembles a current map of who lives where across the palace grounds, from formal apartments to more intimate cottages and historic stables. Here is a synthesis of those placements and the roles they play today.

Apartment 1A, The Prince and Princess of Wales — William and Catherine The Prince and Princess of Wales retain use of Apartment 1A in Kensington Palace for official business, even as plans to relocate William and Kate to the Forest Lodge in the palace grounds surface for later this year. The residence, though described as an apartment, spans four floors and includes multiple reception rooms, staff bedrooms and a gym, making it far from a typical city flat. The couple undertook a substantial refurbishment after their 2011 marriage to reaccommodate a growing family and official duties, and the interior design, led by Ben Pentreath, blends palatial scale with personal touches such as family photographs. William and Kate’s time at 1A has included high-profile moments, including hosting Barack and Michelle Obama outside the palace in 2016. During the Covid-19 era, the couple conducted official business remotely from the palace, sharing glimpses of family life through the private interiors. In 2022, the family reportedly moved part-time to give their children a more normal upbringing, while 1A remains a primary base for formal affairs and ceremonies.

Wren House, The Duke of Kent — Edward, and Katharine, the Duchess of Kent North of the main palace sits Wren House, a five-bedroom, five-reception property that serves as the Duke of Kent’s residence with his late wife Katharine Worsley. The home offers expansive views of the palace’s walled garden and is named in honor of Sir Christopher Wren, the designer behind many late 17th- and early 18th-century royal structures. Wren House has featured in recent royal life, including a video released to mark the Duke’s 89th birthday, where he was treated to a performance by three pipers from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. The property’s seclusion and generous spaces mark a contrast with the palace’s more publicly visible suites.

Ivy Cottage, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank Within Kensington Palace’s grounds sits Ivy Cottage, a smaller, intimate home that nonetheless serves a high-profile royal family. Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank reside here with their children, August and Ernest. The three-bedroom cottage is famed for its picturesque rose-bordered entrance and a neatly kept garden behind it. Eugenie’s family life at Ivy Cottage reflects a balance between royal duties and a more private, family-centered existence, with reports indicating the couple’s time is split between the London residence and Portugal, where Brooksbank holds a senior role with Costa Terra Golf and Ocean Club. The cottage’s smaller footprint underscores the diversity of Kensington’s housing portfolio, which ranges from grand state apartments to several family-focused homes.

Apartment 10, Prince Michael of Kent and Princess Michael of Kent — Marie Christine von Reibnitz Inside the palace, Apartment 10, a five-bedroom, five-reception home across three floors, has housed Prince Michael and Princess Michael of Kent for decades. The couple has occupied the space since the 1970s. The venue’s historical footprint includes original features from the Georgian era, such as an eagle console table from builder William Kent. Public attention surrounding the couple’s occupancy arose in 2002 when it emerged they paid a relatively modest weekly rent for the luxury home; since 2010, they have been required to pay a considerably higher annual sum. Apartment 10 stands as a lasting example of Kensington Palace’s long-standing use by members of the broader royal circle beyond the immediate Prince and Princess of Wales.

Old Stables, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester — Richard and Birgitte The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester moved to the Old Stables in 2019 after extensive renovations, leaving behind their earlier residence in Apartment 1 for more space near the palace’s rear grounds. The Old Stables are separated from the main cluster of family apartments and offer a distinct living area with a quieter setting. The couple’s decision to relocate after more than four decades in central accommodation reflects both the practical needs of a senior royal couple and the evolving layout of Kensington’s rental units. The reno project, valued at about £1 million, modernized the space while preserving its historic character.

Nottingham Cottage, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex — Prince Harry and Meghan Earlier in their royal careers, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle lived in Nottingham Cottage, a modest two-bedroom home close to the heart of Kensington Palace. The couple’s time there is well documented, including family moments and appearances in their Netflix series. Notably, Harry has described the home as a “hovel,” in contrast to the larger, more expansive accommodations others enjoyed, while Meghan reportedly admired Kate Middleton’s apartment from a distance. The cottage provided access to the broader Kensington amenities and services, but the couple eventually moved to Frogmore Cottage at Windsor, transitioning to a different royal life stage.

Apartment 8 and 9, Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales The pair moved into Apartments 8 and 9 in 1981, originally built for King George I’s mistress, the Duchess of Kendal. Located opposite Apartment 1A and near Ivy Cottage, these units became a focal point of royal life during Charles and Diana’s marriage. After their separation and divorce, Diana’s residence in the apartments continued as her primary home until her death in 1997. In the years since, the spaces have been repurposed for charitable work and as office space for various initiatives linked to the palace, reflecting Kensington’s flexible approach to royal use.

Apartment 1A, Princess Margaret — The Countess of Snowdon Before William and Catherine moved in, Apartment 1A was famously home to Princess Margaret, who lived there from 1963 after the Queen gifted the apartment to her following her wedding to Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960. After a 1963 renovation, Margaret remained in the apartment despite her divorce, living there until her death in 2002. The space remains a symbol of Kensington’s long-standing role as a residence for generations of the royal family, including royals who preferred the privacy and comfort of a single-family apartment within the palace’s historic fabric.

The mosaic of Kensington Palace’s current residents underscores the estate’s ongoing function as a living, evolving royal home rather than a static museum. While official swings in a royal calendar and evolving family needs may shift where people reside within the grounds, Kensington Palace remains central to daily royal life in London, reflecting both tradition and adaptability in one of Britain’s most storied historic properties.