Surrounded by woodlands in the 4,800-acre Windsor Great Park, Forest Lodge was designed by Humphry Repton. Its red-brick facade conceals a half-barrel vaulted entrance hall and all the trimmings of a grand Georgian-era mansion: ornate plasterwork and cornicing, marble fireplaces and Venetian windows that overlook the verdant setting. Respectfully enlarged and restored over the years, it was acquired by the Crown in 1829 and since March 1972 has enjoyed Grade II-listed status.
Forest lodge under renovation in 2001.
Ornate plasterwork remained intact during the 2001 renovation.
How big is William and Kate’s new home?
William and Kate’s new home has eight bedrooms, and features six chimneys and nine bay windows. While Forest Lodge has the space, William and Kate will have no live-in staff, as is the case with their current family set-up at Adelaide Cottage.
How much is Forest Lodge worth today?
Another shot of Forest Lodge under renovation in 2001.
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After its last renovation in 2001, which cost approximately $2 million, the mansion was valued at $7.45 million. If Forest Lodge were to come on the market today, it would be worth approximately $22 million.
Who lived at Forest Lodge before William and Kate?
Notable former occupants of Forest Lodge include Sir Malcom Murray, Sir William Fremantle, and Sir John Aird. In 1998, you could rent it for $82,000 a year. After it was announced that the Prince and Princess of Wales were relocating to Forest Lodge, news circulated that two families who lived in cottages nearby were asked to vacate. To offer context, these families rented the cottages (once Forest Lodge’s stables) from the Crown Estate and have been offered similar accommodations elsewhere in Windsor Great Park.
Who will pay the rent for William and Kate’s new home, Forest Lodge?
William and Kate will pay the rent for Forest Lodge personally, meaning they will not be using public funds. Any minor renovations will also be paid for by the couple.
Why are William and Kate moving to Forest Lodge?
Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales welcoming French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron (not pictured) to Windsor Castle in July 2025.
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