William and Kate's 'Secret Home' Plans: Pair to Renovate Building on Windsor Property as Retreat for the Princess

Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, are said to be considering a major renovation and expansion project on one of their royal properties. Although the future king and queen are said to "absolutely adore" Adelaide Cottage on the grounds near Windsor Castle, the pair feel it is not quite as large for themselves and their family as their other country home, Anmer Hall in Norfolk, England.

"They [William and Kate] absolutely adore Adelaide Cottage, but it just about fits the entire family, whereas Anmer Hall is much larger with extensive grounds," a family source spilled. "Adelaide Cottage is being used as a term time property while the children are at school nearby, and Anmer Hall is for long weekends and holidays."

The plans are said to include the restoration of a "rundown redbrick annex" near the cottage that will serve as both a retreat for the queen-in-waiting and their staff.

"Nobody knows that there is quite a spacious red-brick annex building that's not being used next door to Adelaide Cottage," they added. "It's currently inhabitable and needs extensive renovation works if it were to be used. Discussions have been ongoing for a while about using the property as part of the overall cottage grounds, but it's just about finding the right time to kick the project off."

Although HRH was previously reported to have spent some of her immediate her post-surgical recovery at the Windsor property, the Wales household apparently moved to Anmer Hall due to its larger size.

The renovation at Adelaide Cottage would typically be funded by British taxpayers, but the Prince of Wales is allegedly not keen on this idea.

"William is very conscious of the public scrutiny over the royal family's spending habits, so he is looking at the best way to cover any renovation costs," the source revealed. "It's a project that's very much been put on the back burner for now due to the family's unfortunate position, but it will be looked at again when the time is right."

Originally built in 1831 for King William IV's wife, Queen Adelaide, that consort's namesake cottage was fully renovated by William and Kate in 2015. It has long been rumored that this restoration project included a collection of gilded dolphins and ropes adorning the master bedroom walls.

The renovation project comes amid reports suggesting the Princess of Wales is in "good spirits" as her preventative chemotherapy treatments continue. The Prince of Wales will undertake his first public engagement since his wife revealed her battle with disease on Thursday, April 18 in Surrey and West London.

Daily Mirror reported on the insider revelations.