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Prince William and Kate Middleton took on a major lifestyle change when they moved from London to Windsor in 2022. The Prince and Princess of Wales decided that they wanted a more private life for themselves and their children, and their move was attributed to keeping the kids’ lives as normal as possible.

However, it has now been revealed that William and Kate’s move stemmed not only from the kids but also from Queen Elizabeth II, who played a larger role in their relocation than initially thought.

Prince William and Kate Middleton with Prince George and Queen Elizabeth II
Prince William and Kate Middleton with Prince George and Queen Elizabeth II | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Prince William reportedly wanted to be closer to Queen Elizabeth II as she aged

In early 2022, it was starting to become clear that the queen’s health was not what it once was. William and Kate were already interested in a more private life, and coupled with the queen’s health, the two decided to move their family to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor. Sources say the queen played a large role in the move because William wanted to be closer to his grandma for whatever amount of time she had left.

According to Express, royal author Robert Jobson wrote in his book “Catherine, Princess of Wales” that William “knew his time with his grandmother was precious and he is delighted they, as a couple, made that decision.” Jobson reportedly spoke to an anonymous aide while writing the biography about Kate, which is where he learned the information.

“Catherine understood that for William, as a future king, it was important for him to be geographically closer to the late queen in her final months, when he was required to support both her and his father,” Jobson continued. He said the move made “a real difference” and that William and the queen became “even closer” during those last few months.

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Queen Elizabeth II always remained close to her grandchildren

There was no shortage of drama within the royal family during the queen’s final years. And when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from their royal roles, many thought the queen was upset. While it wasn’t the situation she’d pictured in terms of carrying on her legacy, the queen always had love for all of her grandchildren, including a soft spot for Harry and his wife.

When the queen died, her grandkids had nothing but kind words for her. Princess Eugenie, the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, wrote on Instagram, “You were our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand on our backs leading us through this world. You taught us so much and we will cherish those lessons and memories forever.”