Kensington Palace is steeped in royal history and has links to everyone from Queen Victoria to Diana, Princess of Wales. The West London palace isn't just the home of one individual or family as it is separated up into several different apartments and smaller cottages.
Nottingham Cottage, Wren Cottage and Ivy Cottage are all located within the grounds of Kensington Palace and have been the grace and favour homes of many royals and staff over the years.
Following The Prince and Princess of Wales' relocation to Windsor, the permanent residents at the palace include The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and The Duke and Duchess of Kent.
While they now split their time between Portugal and the UK, Princess Eugenie, her husband Jack Brooksbank and their son August live at Nottingham Cottage when they are in London. Before this, the cottage saw one of the most significant moments in Harry and Meghan ’s lives.
The Kensington Palace home that the public know the most about is Nottingham Cottage which is colloquially referred to as 'Nott Cott'.
It was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and was named after Nottingham House, the residence of the Earl of Nottingham which was expanded into Kensington Palace by King William III and Queen Mary II.
Nottingham Cottage has been the home to many royals, as well as many royal staff. Most notably is Marion Crawford, the former governess of Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret.
Following her retirement in 1948, Crawford – who was known as 'Crawfie' at work – was given the house for life, and it was decorated for her by Queen Mary using Victorian furniture and floral prints. Crawford had to leave the home in 1950 after she sold personal royal stories to the newspapers.
Other staff to live there include Sir Miles Hunt-Davis, Private Secretary to the Duke of Edinburgh and Robert Fellowes, Private Secretary to the late Queen and brother-in-law of Princess Diana.
Before Crawford, the home had been occupied by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester and his wife, Princess Alice.
The next royal residents were The Prince and Princess of Wales who lived at the property for two-and-a-half years after relocating from Anglesey where Prince William had been stationed as a helicopter pilot.
The couple and the-then three-month-old Prince George moved into Apartment 1A of Kensington Palace in October 2013, and Prince Harry moved into Nottingham Cottage – the location where he would eventually propose to his wife, Meghan Markle.
The pair spoke about the special moment in their engagement interview, Harry said: "It happened a few weeks ago earlier this month, here at our cottage; just a standard typical night for us."
Meghan added: "Just a cosy night – we were trying to roast a chicken and it was just an amazing surprise, it was so sweet and natural and very romantic. He got on one knee."
Following The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding in 2018, the couple relocated to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, before moving again to Santa Barbara, California.
Nottingham Cottage is now thought to be where Princess Eugenie and her family live when they are in London as they started to split their time between the UK and Portugal after Jack was offered a job developing the upscale CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club.
Prince Harry and Princess Eugenie’s close relationship is often remarked upon. In Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand's book 'Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of A Modern Royal Family’ they describe the cousins' bond, saying: "Eugenie had always been more than just a cousin to Harry.
“They were also the closest of friends. Out of all the Queen's grandchildren, Harry and Eugenie have one of the most natural connections. Like Harry, Eugenie is loyal, honest, and great fun.
"The two had many nights out together in London. Harry had always confided in his cousin when it came to the women in his life. Not only did he trust her implicitly, but friends say that she gives great advice and has always been 'beyond wise' for her years."
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