The Prince and Princess of Wales are reportedly preparing to self-fund renovations to their £16million ‘forever home’ having learned from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s previous blunder.
It was revealed last month that William and Kate are relocating their family from Adelaide Cottage to the sprawling eight-bedroom Forest Lodge property in Windsor Great Park.
And a series of new images have revealed that work has already begun on the grade II listed building, as the couple look to move in with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis before the end of the year.
The images, obtained by The Mirror, show builders have started planting new trees, hedges and fences in a bid to improve privacy.
Scaffolding has also been spotted outside Forest Lodge with painters and decorators having entered to freshen up some of the interior.
Old pictures of the property released last month gave royal enthusiasts a glimpse into the Wales’s future ‘forever home’, which underwent a £1.5million renovation in 2001.
They revealed elaborate stonework as well as ornate plaster cornices and ceiling decorations, with marble fireplaces and gorgeous Venetian windows to match.
However, with some rooms showing up in a state of disrepair, it is understood that significant upgrades may still be needed inside Forest Lodge to make it fit for a King.
Redacted planning applications from June revealed permissions were granted for new doors and windows as well as renovated floors and ceilings in Forest Lodge.
And it has emerged that Kate and William are set to foot the bill rather than taking money from the Sovereign Grant as they look to avoid any cost to the public.
According to the BBC’s former royal correspondent Jennie Bond, this is a ‘lesson’ that has been learned after Harry and Meghan’s taxpayer-funded refurbishment’ of Frogmore Cottage, which the Sussexes only lived in from April 2019 to early 2020.
Speaking to The Mirror, Ms Bond said of Forest Lodge: ‘By ordinary standards, it is, of course, pretty grand. With eight bedrooms, beautiful gardens, and a tennis court, it would probably be worth around £16million on the open market.
‘It needs a bit of renovation, but it’s reported that, to their credit, the prince and princess intend to fund any work themselves. Lessons have clearly been learned from Harry and Meghan’s extravagant, taxpayer-funded refurbishment of the home they so briefly occupied, Frogmore Cottage – although, to be fair, after leaving the UK, they finally paid the money back.’
The Sussexes were lambasted by the public after spending more than £2.4million on a ‘substantial overhaul’ of Frogmore Cottage, which they famously fled shortly after their exit from the Royal Family.
The then-newlyweds moved out of Kensington Palace in spring 2019 amid reports of a rift with William and Kate – amplified by their decision to move to Frogmore Cottage despite being offered the adjoining room to William and Kate.
Royal expert Robert Jobson, who wrote a best-selling biography on King Charles said at the time: ‘It’s costing far too much money, £2.4million. [Harry and Meghan] should’ve seen this coming, they could’ve avoided it by moving in next door to William and Kate.
He added: ‘The royal family does pay for itself overall but the way this has been handled is not very good’.
The Wales’s are hoping for a ‘fresh start’ after a difficult time at Adelaide Cottage, during which Queen Elizabeth died and Kate and King Charles received cancer diagnoses.
With its chandelier-lit ballroom, tennis court and extensive grounds, Forest Lodge looks set to be a considerable upgrade on the cottage where the Prince and Princess lived with their family for the last three years.
The couple are expected to pay the market rent for their new home, which was last at £15,000 per month.
They are also understood not to want any live-in staff in order to foster a family home environment.
Ms Bond added that the move is all part of William’s drive to ensure his young family are kept as safe as possible.
She added: ‘He is almost obsessive about guarding his family’s privacy. And the fact is that they can have a great deal more privacy in a secluded house in Windsor Great Park than they could ever enjoy if they lived in the middle of a major tourist attraction like the Palace or Castle.’
Kate and William first moved to Windsor in 2022, where they settled at Adelaide Cottage a short walk away.
Their new grade-II listed property is within easy distance of Lambrook School, where Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are all pupils.
The Prince and Princess’s official residence is Kensington Palace, while their country home – a gift from Queen Elizabeth – is Anmer Hall, located on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.