Prince William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales, are set to move into a new “forever home” in Windsor, Kensington Palace has confirmed. The family will relocate from their current residence, the four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage, to the more spacious, eight-bedroom Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park later this year. The move comes as the couple seeks a fresh start after what has been a challenging period for the family.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson stated that “The Wales family will move house later this year.” According to reports, the new residence, Forest Lodge, is a Grade II-listed Georgian property with a number of original features, including marble fireplaces and ornate ceilings. The move is understood to be a private decision, with the couple funding the relocation and any necessary renovations themselves, at no additional cost to the taxpayer.
The decision to move follows three difficult years for the family at Adelaide Cottage, marked by the death of Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles’s cancer diagnosis, and the Princess of Wales’s own cancer treatment. Sources close to the family told The Sun that the move provides “an opportunity for a fresh start and a new chapter,” allowing them to “leave some of the more unhappy memories behind.”
The new home is seen as a long-term solution for the family, with sources suggesting it could remain their primary residence even after Prince William ascends to the throne. The family first moved to Windsor in 2022 to be closer to Lambrook School, where their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—are enrolled. The move to the larger property will accommodate the growing family and their desire for a more spacious and permanent home.
The property, which is owned by the Crown Estate, was last renovated in 2001 and is estimated to be worth approximately £16 million on the open market. Renovations, which reportedly include new doors, windows, and flooring, have already begun. The family will not have live-in staff at their new residence.