Prince William and Kate break tradition with Adelaide Cottage staff

Prince William and Princess Kate have quietly broken with royal tradition by scaling back the level of transparency around their household operations.

In the latest annual financial report, covering April 2024 to March 2025, the Prince and Princess of Wales chose not to provide a detailed breakdown of household staff roles such as chefs, housekeepers, butlers, and gardeners.

Instead, the report revealed only the total number of employees in William’s household: 68 staff members, a modest increase of two from the previous year.

The move signals a clear departure from Charles’s more open approach to royal staffing and public accountability.

The 43 year old heir to the throne also declined to disclose his personal tax bill although it is confirmed that he pays the highest rate of income tax.

The size and character of Adelaide Cottage naturally limit the number of permanent live-in staff, leading to streamlined household operations. 

The property, known for its distinctive pastel pink exterior, underwent a thorough refurbishment in 2015 and boasts unique historical features including a study and master bedroom once decorated with golden dolphins and a ceiling rope salvaged from a 19th-century royal yacht.

The annual finance report also disclosed an 11 day royal trip costing £400,535, but overall reveals less about the inner workings of the Wales household than previous reports.

Despite retaining housekeepers and nannies, William and Kate are said to have embraced a more hands on approach to parenting, further reducing reliance on a large domestic team.