Rare Warning Issued at Kate Middleton and Prince William's Palace Home

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The Prince and Princess of Wales primarily live in Windsor, but retain a key tie to London

A warning was issued at Kate Middleton and Prince William's Kensington Palace home in London over the weekend.

On Nov. 24, Historic Royal Palaces announced that several royal residences including Kensington Palace, were closed due to Storm Bert. According to the BBC, at least five people have died in the storm that hit the U.K. over the weekend. More rainfall is expected across southern England and south Wales, where homes and travel have been affected by the adverse weather. 

"Due to Storm Bert, there are a number of closures across our sites on Sunday 24 November. Kensington Palace is closed today — please see our website for more on the gardens at Hampton Court Palace and Hillsborough Castle," Historic Royal Palaces wrote on X, directing ticket inquiries to its team. 

Responding to a user who suggested that its coordinating website should be updated with that information, the Historic Royal Palaces responded, "We are on the case." 

Due to Storm Bert, there are a number of closures across our sites on Sunday 24 November. Kensington Palace is closed today - please see our website for more on the gardens at Hampton Court Palace and Hillsborough Castle. Alternatively, email info@hrp.org.uk for ticket enquiries. pic.twitter.com/xtUhY4euSr

— Historic Royal Palaces (@HRP_palaces) November 24, 2024

Related: Where Does the Royal Family Live? Everything to Know About Their Residences

Kensington Palace is a working royal residence, and the London home of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, Birgitte, the Duchess of Gloucester, Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, Katharine, the Duchess of Kent and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. Historic Royal Palaces is the charity that maintains public access to historical parts of the palace, as well as Hampton Court Palace, Kew Palace, the Tower of London, Banqueting House and Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland.

Prince William and Princess Kate, 42, have an office at Kensington Palace and use it as a hub, but they no longer reside there full-time. The couple memorably called Apartment 1A home when their children Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, were younger, but moved out to Windsor (about 40 minutes west) in the summer of 2022. 

Related: The King's Real Estate: All About King Charles III's Homes Across the U.K.

In the biography Catherine, Princess of Wales, published in August, author Robert Jobson writes that William and Kate moved in order in order to be closer to his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, following the death of her husband, Prince Philip, in April 2021.

Quoting an aide, Jobson writes in the book that Prince William "knew his time with his grandmother was precious and he is delighted they, as a couple, made that decision."

"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. It made a real difference," Jobson wrote in the biography, published in August. "They were in regular contact, seeing each other in person and speaking on the phone several times a week, bringing them even closer."

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William and Kate's life changed when Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022, sparking King Charles' accession and William's advancement to heir in the line of succession to the throne. The Prince and Princess of Wales continue to remain based in Windsor, living at Adelaide Cottage within Windsor Great Park, and George, Charlotte and Louis are day students at the nearby Lambrook School.

Adelaide Cottage is close to Windsor Castle, and it emerged last week that a working farm on the castle grounds was the target of a burglary on Oct. 13. According toThe Sun, two intruders scaled a 6-foot in an apparent heist to steal farm vehicles and used a stolen vehicle to crash through a security gate on the way out. At the time of the robbery, the Wales family was reportedly sleeping at home.

The Prince and Princess of Wales' Kensington Palace office had no comment. Buckingham Palace also didn't comment, sticking to precedent where security is concerned.