After Princess Diana died on 31 August 1997, Prince William and Prince Harry primarily resided at Kensington Palace in London. They moved into the family apartment at No 10 Kensington Palace Gardens—known as the ‘Nursery’—with their father, Prince Charles, and later stepped back into private family accommodation at No 12 (the former residence of the Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret). In the early 2000s, both princes spent periods at Birkhall on the Balmoral estate and Highgrove House, while William also studied at St Andrews in Scotland. The table below summarises key residences, dates, and circumstances. Later, as young adults, both spent time in the United States for study and work, with Harry living briefly in Los Angeles before relocating full-time from 2020.
Immediate aftermath and Kensington Palace
In the immediate weeks after Diana’s death, William and Harry remained at Kensington Palace alongside their father and senior royal staff. The so-called ‘Nursery’ at No 10 Kensington Palace Gardens served as their primary living and sleeping area while maintaining a degree of privacy amid intense media scrutiny. In 1998, they moved next door to No 12 Kensington Palace Gardens, which had been Princess Margaret’s former home and offered more space. These arrangements reflected a careful balance between security, family proximity, and a gradual return to semi-normal routines.
Kensington Palace residence timeline (1997–2003)
| Period | Residence | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aug–Dec 1997 | No 10 Kensington Palace Gardens (the Nursery) | Immediate post-Diana arrangements; family and staff presence |
| 1998–2003 | No 12 Kensington Palace Gardens | More private family home; proximity to schooling |
| School terms 1997–2005 | Ludgrove School & Eton College (weekdays) | Lived at school during term time; weekends at Kensington Palace |
Balmoral and Highgrove
Beyond London, both princes spent regular time at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire and Highgrove House in Gloucestershire. Birkhall, a smaller house on the Balmoral estate, became a favoured private retreat where William and Harry could relax away from formal duties and media attention. These Scottish and rural Gloucestershire residences offered stability and a connection to the wider royal estate, especially during school holidays and family gatherings.
Country residences used by William and Harry in the late 1990s and 2000s
- Birkhall, Balmoral Estate — private family weekends and holidays
- Highgrove House, Gloucestershire — family events and informal stays
- Anmer Hall, Norfolk — later childhood use; proximity to Sandringham
University years and transatlantic moves
At university, William and Harry split their time between the UK and the United States. William studied at the University of St Andrews in Scotland from 2001 to 2005, living in student accommodation in St Andrews and Edinburgh. Harry attended Sandhurst, then took a gap year, before also studying at St Andrews briefly. In the 2010s and early 2020s, periods in the United States increased: William trained with the Royal Air Force in California and at RAF Valley in Wales, while Harry completed officer training at Sandhurst before serving in Afghanistan. By the late 2010s, William was based full-time in the UK with his family, while Harry and Meghan Markle lived in Canada and later the United States from 2020 onward.
Key residences at a glance
| Residence | Period | Context |
|---|---|---|
| No 10 Kensington Palace Gardens (Nursery) | Aug–Dec 1997 | Immediate post-Diana private family space |
| No 12 Kensington Palace Gardens | 1998–2003 | Family home; proximity to schools |
| Birkhall, Balmoral | 1990s–ongoing (regular visits) | Private holiday and weekend retreat |
| Highgrove House, Gloucestershire | Periodic stays | Family and staff events |
| St Andrews, Scotland / RAF training bases | 2000s–2010s | University and service-related stays |
| Frogmore Cottage, Windsor | 2018–2019 (Harry & Meghan) | Granted by Queen; later vacated |
| Los Angeles / Montecito, USA | 2020 onward (Harry & Meghan) | Relocation away from senior duties |
Privacy, security, and family planning
Throughout the late 1990s and 2000s, decisions about where William and Harry lived were shaped by security needs, schooling, and the desire for as normal a childhood as possible given their unique circumstances. Kensington Palace provided both proximity to official duties and a controlled family environment. The countryside homes offered relief from the London spotlight. As they reached adulthood, both chose to spend time abroad—principally in the United States—for education, career development, and, in Harry’s case, a gradual transition away from full-time royal duties.
Frequently asked questions
- Did William and Harry stay at Buckingham Palace after Diana died? No; they remained at Kensington Palace with their father and did not move into Buckingham Palace during the immediate aftermath.
- Were they fostered or placed in care? No. They remained with family members and continued their education at Eton and later university.
- When did they move to the United States? William’s longer U.S. periods began in the 2010s (RAF pilot training); Harry moved to Los Angeles around 2017 and to Montecito in 2020.
- Do they still have homes in the UK? Yes. William and Catherine reside mainly in London and Windsor; Harry retains connections to Frogmore Cottage, though he has lived primarily in the U.S. since 2020.