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Wales Online
Wales Online
Lifestyle
Emily Withers

Royal Family: Prince William and Kate's 'normal' life in Wales with a small house, jobs and trips to the shops

Prince William and Kate Middleton are the most famous couple in the UK. They are used to constant media attention and cameras following them wherever they go.

But for a short period ten years ago, they were able to live a quiet and private life in rural Wales, even popping top the local shops without any staff.

Will and Kate spent time on Anglesey, where the prince was stationed as a search and rescue helicopter pilot for the RAF, between 2010 and 2013.

Read more: Pictures of William and Kate in Wales as they celebrate 10th wedding anniversary.

In 2010, Prince William was stationed in Anglesey, where he was undergoing training to fly the Sea King search and rescue helicopter. Kate moved in with him during this time, which at the time some people found "scandalous" as they were not yet engaged.

When William completed his training, the couple moved into a beautiful farmhouse in the hamlet of Bodorgan.

Prince William worked as a search and rescue helicopter pilot for the RAF (EPA)

At the time, Will was working at the RAF Valley, while The Duchess of Cambridge was working remotely for her parents' company as a website designer, photographer and relationships manager.

The couple lived at Bodorgan Hall, which is the largest property in Bodorgan and is owned by Lord and Lady Meyrick. They reportedly rented the property for £750 per month.

The four-bedroom farmhouse offers views of nearby Newborough Forest, Llanddwyn Island and Snowdonia. It also has its own private beach.

Bodorgan Hall in Anglesey, where Kate and Will lived for three years (Copyright Unknown)

The property also has French doors, an open fire and can sleep up to eight people. The home was built in the late 18th century, with several outhouses that were used as sleeping quarters for the security guards in the past.

The couple were often spotted around the island, with Kate seen many times in local Waitrose and Tesco stores. It was also said that Will's car was well-known in the area. William and Kate left Anglesey in 2013, shortly after the birth of Prince George, to take up residence at Kensington Palace.

The couple at their last public engagement in Anglesey in 2013 (PA)

At the time, William said: "This island has been our first home together, and it will always be an immensely special place for us both. Catherine and I look forward to returning again and again over the coming years with our family.

"I know that I speak for Catherine when I say that I have never in my life known somewhere as beautiful and as welcoming as Anglesey."

However, in Cardiff in 2020, Kate revealed she had felt isolated after the birth of George. During a visit to children's centre, she said: "I was chatting to some of the mums, I had just had George and William was still working with search and rescue, so we came up here when George was a tiny, tiny little baby, in the middle of Anglesey.

"It was so isolated, so cut off, I didn't have my family around me, he was doing night shifts, so if only I'd had a centre like this at a certain time."

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