Inside Prince William And Kate Middleton’s New ‘Forever Home’

Having downsized from Kensington Palace to Adelaide Cottage in 2022, Prince William and Kate Middleton are now looking to expand their family home. Read on to discover more about their new property, Forest Lodge.

Forest Lodge: Prince William And Kate Middleton’s New ‘Forever Home’

Prince William and Kate Middleton are officially abandoning Kensington Palace in favour of a brand new ‘forever home’. Having relocated from the central London palace to the more modest Adelaide Cottage in 2022, it was suggested that the move was designed to test out life in Berkshire where George (12), Charlotte (10) and Louis (7) have been enrolled at the nearby Lambrook School. 

But after a tumultuous few years of Kate and Charles’ cancer diagnoses and Queen Elizabeth II’s death, William and Kate are officially looking for a fresh start – and it seems that Berkshire has ticked all their boxes. They have now found their forever home in the form of the eight-bedroom Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park. 

Why Are They Moving?

‘Windsor has become their home. However, over the last few years while they have lived at Adelaide Cottage there have been some really difficult times,’ said one royal source. ‘Moving gives them an opportunity for a fresh start and a new chapter. It’s an opportunity to leave some of the more unhappy memories behind.’

Describing Forest Lodge as their ‘forever home’, like Charles and Camilla (who currently reside in Clarence House), Prince William and Kate have snubbed Buckingham Palace in favour of Forest Lodge as their preferred residence for when they are crowned king and queen. As with the four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage, it is understood they will not have any live-in staff as they focus on creating a private family home.  Expecting to move there ahead of their first Christmas in the home later this year, the new property is just four miles from Adelaide Cottage. 

Inside Forest Lodge

Forest lodge is an eight-bedroom Grade II listed Georgian property, secluded in the 4,8000 acre Windsor Great Park. While William and Kate have technically downsized from their palace days, the 328-year-old property (which is owned by King Charles III as part of the Crown Estate) is said to be worth up to £16 million. 

First built in the 1770s, the red-brick manor house was listed in 1972. Originally known as Holly Grove, it became part of the Royal Estate in 1829 when George IV purchased it and was later renamed to Forest Lodge in 1937. It boasts a string of fine period details, including Venetian windows, marble fireplaces, a hallway with a barrel-vaulted ceiling and ornate stucco moulding, as well as original stonework and elaborate plaster cornices. On top of the spectacular views of Windsor Park, Prince William – who is an avid football fan – will also be able to spy Wembley Arch from his bedroom window. 

Forest Lodge was last renovated in 2001 at a cost of £1.5m in preparation for it to be rented out for £15,000 a month. However, the royal couple have already sought planning permission back in June for some minor internal and external renovations of the new property, including replacing doors and windows, stripping out internal walls, renovating the ceilings, replacing some floors and works to a fireplace.  The family are set to fund the renovations themselves rather than using money from the Sovereign Grant which provides state funding for the monarchy. The Prince and Princess of Wales are also funding the move privately and they will pay market rent on the property. 

Where Else Do They Have Homes?

Prince William and Kate Middleton also have homes at Anmer Hall in Norfolk where they spend much of the school holidays, while their offices continue to remain at Kensington Palace. Want to know where the rest of the royal family live? Read here.