The Prince and Princess of Wales are preparing for a new chapter as they leave Adelaide Cottage in Windsor with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, to settle into a larger family home.
Kensington Palace confirmed the move in a statement: “The Wales family will move house later this year.”
A New Home at Forest Lodge
Reports suggest the family will relocate to Forest Lodge, an eight-bedroom residence located in Windsor Great Park. Royal correspondent Danielle Stacey told HELLO! why this property is considered their “forever home.”
“The Prince and Princess of Wales clearly love living in Windsor, the children are settled at Lambrook School nearby, and they will still be close to Windsor Castle for royal functions and engagements. Upsizing to Forest Lodge allows the family more space and has already been viewed as their ‘forever home,’ rather than having the children growing up within the walls of a palace,” she explained.
Renovation Plans
Planning applications submitted to the local council in June outline minor external updates, along with internal and external alterations. According to reports, Prince William intends to cover the cost of the property and all renovations himself. The family will also maintain their preference for not having live-in staff.
Forest Lodge underwent a major £1.5 million restoration in 2001, preserving its original features such as stonework, ornate plaster cornices, marble fireplaces, Venetian windows, and a vaulted hallway ceiling. The Grade II-listed property was later placed on the rental market at £15,000 per month.
Current Residences
At present, William, Kate, and their children live in Adelaide Cottage, a four-bedroom pink-fronted home within Windsor Home Park Estate. The property, fully refurbished in 2015, features a private garden, a cosy study, and a master bedroom once decorated with golden dolphins and a ceiling rope salvaged from a 19th-century royal yacht. While it is just a ten-minute walk from Windsor Castle, it remains a private residence with no public access.
The couple also owns Anmer Hall in Norfolk, where they lived before their move to Windsor in 2022. The 10-bedroom house continues to serve as a retreat. Prince William once said of the property during an Apple Time to Walk episode: “We spend as much time as we can here, it’s very peaceful.”
In London, their base remains Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace. Once home to Princess Margaret, the 20-room, four-storey residence takes up half a wing of the palace and includes multiple reception rooms, three bedrooms, nurseries, dressing rooms, and staff quarters.
A Family Move
The shift from Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge reflects William and Kate’s desire to balance royal duties with a more private, family-focused life. Their children remain settled in school, while the new home provides space for the family of five to grow in a place already being described as their permanent residence.