The Royals are building their new ‘forever home’ but lessons have been learned from Harry and Meghan’s last refurb.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are soon moving to their new home Forest Lodge (Image: 2025 Karwai Tang )
Their ‘forever home’ is how it’s been described, and you wouldn’t be wrong in saying it is fit for a King and Queen. Once William and Kate ascend to the throne, Forest Lodge will be where they live and continue to raise their family.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are making swift preparations for Forest Lodge, their chosen residence, to be ready for them and their family to move in later this year.
William and Kate will be leaving their current four-bedroom home, Adelaide Cottage, to relocate to the impressive eight-bedroom grade II listed property nestled within Windsor Great Park.
Exclusive photos from The Mirror reveal extensive works underway, with new trees and hedgerows being planted and fences erected around the mansion to enhance privacy.
Scaffolding can also be spotted to the left of the house, with it understood that painters and decorators are freshening up some of the rooms.
Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park which will soon be the new home for William and Kate (Image: n.c)
The home features original stonework, elaborate plaster cornices and exquisite marble fireplaces(Image: PA)
Redacted planning applications were submitted to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council in June, with permission granted in July for minor internal and external alterations to the property, reports the Mirror.
These include new windows and doors, as well as renovated ceilings and floors. Meanwhile, Kate has reportedly been seen selecting new furniture for the home – believed to include a splendid 24-seater dining table.
Contemporary royals William and Kate are personally funding the renovation costs rather than using the Sovereign Grant, ensuring no additional burden on taxpayers. It’s also believed they’ll pay market-rate rent for their new residence, with sources suggesting they aim to relocate before Christmas.
Works have been taking place around Forest Lodge’s grounds ahead of the Waleses moving in (Image: n.c)
The front reception room of the Grade II-listed Forest Lodge, in Windsor Great Park(Image: PA)
Similar to Adelaide Cottage, the Waleses reportedly don’t want live-in staff at their fresh abode, allowing them to establish a private family atmosphere.
Over two decades ago in 2001, when Forest Lodge underwent extensive restoration work costing £1.5million, potential tenants were quoted £15,000 monthly.
Interior photographs from that period revealed stunning original stonework, ornate plaster cornicing and ceiling details, plus a half-barrel vaulted entrance hall ceiling amongst other appealing characteristics.
Former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond told the Mirror: “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.”
Extensive ground works are currently underway(Image: n.c)
Forest Lodge’s staircase undergoing refurbishment in 2001(Image: PA)
William, Kate, and their three youngsters – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis – have called their present Adelaide Cottage residence, situated in Windsor, home for three years.
They also maintain a flat at Kensington Palace in London, alongside their countryside sanctuary at Anmer Hall in Norfolk.
Significant changes have occurred since their initial relocation to Windsor in August 2022.
Within days of the move, the late Queen passed away, with William and Kate swiftly elevated to Prince and Princess of Wales.
Last year proved particularly challenging for the household, with William characterising it as a ‘brutal’ period following Kate’s major abdominal operation, her subsequent cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy regime.
She announced her remission earlier this year and is steadily resuming her Royal responsibilities.
Planning permission was granted for alterations to the property (Image: n.c)
Forest Lodge’s grand entrance hall. The house previously underwent £1.5million of renovations in 2001.(Image: PA)
Insiders suggest this has resulted in the family enduring some “really difficult times” at Adelaide Cottage, with the relocation representing a new beginning for the Waleses as they put any painful recollections behind them.
They’re keen to create fresh, more joyful memories at Forest Lodge, where they’re believed to wish to continue residing as a family in comparative seclusion – even when heir apparent William ultimately inherits the throne from his father, King Charles.
This raises questions regarding Buckingham Palace’s future, which could potentially witness no sovereign residing there going forward, despite currently serving as the Monarchy’s headquarters. And whilst Jennie reckons William will need to juggle his craving for privacy with his Royal responsibilities, the Forest Lodge relocation “makes sense” for the time being.
She elaborates: “There is some value to the monarch being as visible as possible. That’s why moving ‘the court’ around the country has merit. But I imagine it could make you feel a bit like a nomad.
“Therefore, especially while his children are young, I can quite understand that he wants to keep them as grounded as possible, so that they know exactly what a comfy and settled home life feels like: something crucially important to William, because he never had it before he married.
The eight-bedroom house features Venetian windows and a half-barrel vaulted hallway ceiling (Image: n.c)
“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.
“Royal with a small ‘r’ is the way William has already defined the way he wants to do things. And Forest Lodge, if it is indeed to be his new home, is in keeping with that philosophy.
“Like his father, William is ‘not stupid’ -as Charles once retorted when challenged about whether he would change his ways when he became King.
“I’m sure he knows he will have to ‘put on his public face’ a lot more when he takes over. But, for the time being, he is much more a protective husband and dad than a King in waiting. And that’s quite OK with me.”
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However, it’s not just William who will be pleased with the move to Forest Lodge. Jennie suggests that Kate too will appreciate the distance from any grander residences.
She further comments: “The move is probably a great relief for Catherine who, of course, grew up in a ‘normal’ happy family home and would probably hate the idea of living in a huge, draughty, ancient castle, or a palace in the centre of London, with nearly 800 rooms.
“There is enough about being royal that must seem seriously odd. At least the place you call home should be somewhere you feel comfortable and comforted.”