The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have employed nanny Maria Borrallo since Prince George was a baby. As far as the childcare we know about, Nanny Maria is seemingly their only full-time nanny. I’ve wondered at times if there are part-time nannies who come and go, especially after Kate gave birth to Louis. Maria has always been live-in, and when Kate and William travel, it’s believed that Maria takes the kids to Bucklebury and she stays with the kids even at Carole and Michael Middleton’s home. Well, weird news? Nanny Maria is no longer going to be a live-in nanny. Because Kate is being moved to Adelaide Cottage with the kids, there is no “space” to have a live-in nanny? Hm.
Most couples with young children dream of upsizing to give their growing brood more space to spread their wings. But in the coming two or three weeks, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will do the opposite, swapping their grand Kensington Palace home for a relatively modest four-bedroomed cottage on the Windsor estate, a move that will see them navigate life without a live-in nanny for their first time in their children’s lives.
For Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, seven and Prince Louis, four – used to having Maria Borrallo, their Spanish Norland nanny, on hand 24/7 – the move to Adelaide Cottage will represent a significant change. Although Ms Borrallo will be kept on full time, she will live elsewhere, as will the handful of other support staff that have long “lived-in” with the family at Kensington Palace, thought to include a housekeeper and a chef.
The Duke and Duchess hired Ms Borrallo in 2014 when Prince George was eight months old and she has been a regular fixture at the family’s side ever since, often pictured at official events in the traditional brown Norland uniform. Ms Borrallo sometimes travels with them on holiday and has her own apartment at the family’s Anmer Hall property on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
But while she will remain a key figure in the children’s lives, the relocation to Windsor will usher in a new era for the Cambridge clan. At Adelaide Cottage, a pretty Grade II-listed property built in 1831 for Queen Adelaide, the wife of William IV, they will be nestled in the heart of the Crown Estate’s Home Park, with much more scope for horse riding, walking the family dog and playing away from prying eyes. The adjoining Adelaide Lodge is unoccupied and no longer inhabitable as it is built into a hill and was never structurally underpinned.
The couple hope the move will allow them to give their children the best and most “normal” childhood possible. It will also ensure stability if they relocate next door to Windsor Castle at any point in the future.
All this does is bring up something which has bugged me all along about the “move to Adelaide Cottage” – it’s never made any sense if you believe the cover story about how the whole family is moving to this relatively “modest” family home. It only makes sense if you consider Adelaide to be Kate’s separation home, where she can play-act some version of a divorced mom who has her kids during the week and every other weekend. The fact that they wouldn’t give her a royal property which has enough space for staff quarters is really telling. And frankly, if the Windsors believed that William would be living full-time at Adelaide Cottage with Kate and the kids, the Cambridges would have gotten a bigger royal home with plenty of space for live-in staff.
Also: everyone is being so weird about how the Cambridges are “moving out” of Kensington Palace. They’re not. They will still retain KP, and that’s where the Cambridges’ whole office situation is, in addition to the fancy mansion-within-a-palace. William is going to live at KP. That much is clear. AND they’re keeping Anmer Hall.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
KING’S LYNN, ENGLAND – JULY 05: Prince George of Cambridge plays with the wheels of Princess Charlotte’s pram as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince George’s nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo (in her Norland Nanny Uniform) looks on as they leave the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham Estate for the Christening of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge on July 5, 2015 in King’s Lynn, England.,Image: 525425487, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Florida: +1 239 689 1883 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon 
KING’S LYNN, ENGLAND – JULY 05: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge and Prince George of Cambridge, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince George’s nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo leave the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham Estate for the Christening of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge on July 5, 2015 in King’s Lynn, England.,Image: 525454287, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Florida: +1 239 689 1883 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon 
116260, Prince George’s Nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo with the The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George attend the Plunkett’s Parent’s Group at Government House in Wellington. Wellington, New Zealand – Wednesday April 9, 2014. UK, FRANCE, AUS, NZ, CHINA, HONG KONG, TAIWAN, SPAIN & ITALY OUT Photograph: © i-Images, PacificCoastNews. Los Angeles Office: +1 310.822.0419 London Office: +44 208.090.4079 sales@pacificcoastnews.com FEE MUST BE AGREED PRIOR TO USAGE,Image: 530638305, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: i-Images, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge at Trooping the Colour Parade in celebration of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, in London,Image: 696332347, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Ian Vogler / Avalon 
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the fly past after Trooping The Colour – The Queen’s Birthday Parade, London, UK – 02 Jun 2022,Image: 696417262, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Ian Vogler / Avalon 
Britain’s Catherine (C), Duchess of Cambridge, speaks to her children Britain’s Prince George and Britain’s Princess Charlotte during a visit to Cardiff Castle in Wales on June 4, 2022 as part of the royal family’s tour for Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee celebrations. – Over the course of the Central Weekend, members of the royal family will visit the Nations of the United Kingdom to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.,Image: 696913395, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: ASHLEY CROWDEN / Avalon
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Louis at the Platinum Pageant from the Royal Box on the final day of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in London.,Image: 697183086, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Stephen Lock / Avalon 
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visiting Little Village Brent, to hear how the baby bank is supporting local families by ensuring that they have access to essential items for their young children.,Image: 698075352, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Paul Grover / Avalon 
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge attend Royal Ascot 2022 at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, UK.,Image: 700671619, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon
Jul 10, 2022; London, England, United Kingdom; Prince William biting his nails while sitting between his parents William and Kate in the Royal Box watching Nick Kyrgios (AUS) return a shot during his men’s singles final against Novak Djokovic (SRB) on Centre court at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.,Image: 706426802, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: World Rights, Model Release: no, Credit line: Peter van den Berg / Avalon 
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 02: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge attend the Sandwell Aquatics Centre during the 2022 Commonwealth Games on August 02, 2022 in Birmingham, England.,Image: 711466387, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Chris Jackson / Avalon 
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 02: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge attend the Sandwell Aquatics Centre during the 2022 Commonwealth Games on August 02, 2022 in Birmingham, England.,Image: 711466393, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Chris Jackson / AvalonncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmirJOdxm%2BvzqZmcG9pan54e9OhnJibkaKvs7XDoJysl56Wu6%2FFvqaYq6GRlK%2BwvtGao6Wnj6y2rbi%2Bp6aYpJ%2BjtKa%2BvqWgr51dnrugrdOYmJ2dnJa2pbG%2BnKatrJGcsnA%3D