The British future monarch, Prince William, has broken his silence about growing up in the royal spotlight at his father King Charles’ private Gloucestershire homeÂ
Princess Catherine’s husband revealed he often forgot that the grounds of Highgrove House were a tourist attraction that would draw around 40,000 visitors to Tetbury every year.
The Prince of Wales recalled to Country Life as he guest-edited their November 2026 issue, saying: “Living in a private house that was surrounded by a working public garden, which was constantly being developed and nurtured by my father – as well as being open to members of the public and therefore pretty busy – could be quite difficult.”
READ MORE: Current Prince William vs old – One will be King, the other died at 30
Princess Kate’s husband went on share an untold story, revealing: “I remember several times when I would wake up, open the curtains and have to hit the floor and hurriedly close them, because I was not fully dressed and there were people outside who could see straight into my bedroom window.”
The property served as a weekend and holiday sanctuary for Prince William and Prince Harry, who spent time there with their father and late mother, Princess Diana.
Following King Charles’ accession in September 2022, the Duchy of Cornwall, which owns Highgrove, passed to the Prince of Wales. As a result, Charles now leases the property from his son.
He did not choose the spotlight. The spotlight chose him. But instead of running from it, he learned to live with grace, to love with all his heart and to serve with humility.
Today, he is not just the heir to the throne – he is a devoted husband, a loving father who understands what it means to grow up different, yet stay grounded.
Aside from Prince William’s recent comments, fans got a better insight into life behind closed doors at Highgrove in his brother Harry’s first-hand account in Spare.
The memoir revealed the brothers converted an underground bomb shelter in the basement of the house into a secret bar called ‘Club H.’
READ MORE: King Charles, William, Kate decide to keep Meghan, Harry at arm’s length
