Princess Margaret reportedly first fell in love with Townsend during visits with her parents and elder sister in the 1940s, often spending time playing with his two children. Yet it wasn’t until the 1950s, following his divorce, that the two would enter into a romantic relationship, although it is not known how much time they spent together at the cottage during those years. The princess was famously stopped from marrying Townsend, 16 years her senior, due to his divorcée status. Seven years later, she would go on to marry society snapper Anthony Armstrong-Jones.
After Townsend vacated the property, the royal residence was the home of a handful of courtiers and relatives, most recently Simon Rhodes, the late son of the Queen’s first cousin Margaret. His wife, Susan, is one of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting.
The property was completed renovated in 2015 following Simon’s death, and it was briefly touted as a potential marital home for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, before they settled on neighbouring Frogmore Cottage. Similar overtures were made after the wedding of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, but so far, no newlyweds have made the move.
So, could it be the ideal choice for the Cambridges? Located just a 10-minute walk from the Queen’s home at Windsor Castle, and with ample room for three children and a dog, plus seven gated entrances offering the utmost privacy, it’s got plenty of upsides. It’s also close to other royal relatives, including the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, as well as Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, and their son August – a potential playmate for Prince Louis.
