EXCLUSIVE: Prince William and Kate Middleton are set to move into Forest Lodge and a property expert has revealed how much the couple may have to spend on rent at their ‘forever home’
The Prince and Princess of Wales currently live in a four-bedroom property (Image: Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
The Prince and Princess of Wales are reportedly set to move into their £16million “forever home” – and a property expert has revealed how much it will cost them every month.
Rather than look to settle inside Buckingham Palace once Prince William becomes King, he and Kate Middleton, along with their children George, Charlotte, and Louis, will instead live in Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park. It is four miles away from their current four-bedroom home, Adelaide Cottage. The couple are expected to fund the move privately and will pay market rent on the property to the Crown Estate, who own it.
While rumours swirl about their imminent arrival, the royal couples’ potential new neighbours have spoken out about what they expect to happen.
The magnificent eight-bedroom Georgian mansion, owned by the royals since 1829, was advertised back in 2001 for £15,000 per month, as reported in Hello! magazine.
However, due to inflation 24 years later, one property expert, Russell Quirk, told Manchester Evening News that William and Kate are more likely to be paying the Crown Estate double that figure.
And giving more details why, he said: “In the last 20 or so years, these things vary region to region, town to town, but suffice to say the likes of Windsor have become ever more popular, particularly with overseas renters.
Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park(Image: Getty Images)
“What has happened over recent years in the previous government and this one is that the stamp duty regime on purchases has come more and more penal and the consequence is now a lot of people are renting instead of buying because they don’t want to pay on a property like that – say a £1 million on stamp duty.
“So the rental market in terms of demand is very very strong. As a consequence of that, that property has probably doubled in terms of its rent value, so £15,000 a month back in 2001 is now probably £30,000 a month, about £7,000 a week. It’s not insubstantial – lots and lots and lots of demand.”
Speaking about their new home, which will be at no cost to the taxpayer, royal biographer and Majesty Magazine editor-in-chief, Ingrid Seward, told Hello!: “This is a really beautiful Georgian house, in a secluded spot, so it will suit them perfectly.
“Adelaide Cottage was only ever going to be temporary, because it’s too small, but William doesn’t want to live in a huge palace. He has always made quite clear that this isn’t the way he wants to live his life.”
The future monarch will now live closer to residents at Cranbourne Hall Residential Park and their new neighbours described them as “wonderful” and “good for the country”.
The royals are keen on a fresh start after a challenging period (Image: AP)
Jean Reeve, 87, commented: “I’m happy for them. I welcome them. But I hope the public allow them to live their quietly as a family.
“It’s a less private spot than their previous home – from what I know about the location. So I’d hate for people to always be going past and saying, ‘Oh, that’s where they live.’ They have young children after all. They deserve privacy.”
Mrs Reeve said William and Kate were her favourite royals and she added: “I think they are going to be good for the country. I was a teenager when the Queen was crowned and she did a lot for this country. But now young blood is a good idea.
“And William and Kate are lovely. They’re young. They’re family-oriented. They’re always with their children. It’s a new style of monarchy. They’d like to be treated as normal people.”
The couple, who married back in 2011, reportedly wanted a fresh start after many challenges in recent years, from King Charles and Kate’s cancer battles to the Queen’s death.