They’re hoping to be in by Christmas
The Prince and Princess of Wales are soon moving to their new home Forest Lodge (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The Prince and Princess of Wales are busily preparing their ‘forever home’, Forest Lodge, for their move later this year. The couple, soon to be King and Queen, will be leaving their current four-bedroom residence, Adelaide Cottage, for the grand eight-bedroom Grade-II listed property situated in Windsor Great Park.
Exclusive photos from The Mirror reveal extensive works underway, including planting new trees and hedgerows and erecting fences around the mansion to enhance privacy. Scaffolding is also visible on the left side of the house, indicating that painters and decorators are currently refurbishing some of the rooms.
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. These modifications include new windows and doors, as well as renovated ceilings and floors.
Meanwhile, it’s reported that Kate has been seen selecting new furniture for their future home, rumoured to include a magnificent 24-seater dining table.
Thoroughly contemporary royals, William and Kate are covering the renovation costs privately, rather than drawing funds from the Sovereign Grant, to prevent any additional expense to the taxpayer. It is also understood that they will pay the market rent for their new residence, which sources say they hope to move into by Christmas.
One of the Forest Lodge reception rooms pictures in 2001 when the property underwent a restoration(Image: PA)
As with Adelaide Cottage, the Waleses are understood not to want any live-in staff at their new property, so that they can establish a private family home atmosphere.
More than 20 years ago, back in 2001, when Forest Lodge underwent extensive restoration work, costing £1.5million, potential tenants were being asked for £15,000 a month.
Images captured inside the estate at the time revealed gorgeous original stonework, elaborate plaster cornices and ceiling decoration and a half-barrel vaulted hallway ceiling, among other attractive features.
Former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond tells 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.”
Forest Lodge’s grand entrance hall(Image: PA)
William, Kate, and their three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis – have resided at their present Adelaide Cottage residence, also located in Windsor, for three years. They additionally maintain an apartment at Kensington Palace in London, alongside their countryside retreat at Anmer Hall in Norfolk.
Considerable 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 being elevated to Prince and Princess of Wales.
Subsequently last year, the household endured what William characterised as a ‘brutal’ year following Kate’s significant abdominal surgery, her cancer diagnosis and ensuing chemotherapy treatment. She announced her remission earlier this year and is progressively resuming Royal responsibilities.
Forest Lodge’s staircase undergoing refurbishment in 2001(Image: PA)
Insiders suggest this has resulted in the family experiencing some “really difficult times” at Adelaide Cottage, with the relocation representing a new beginning for the Waleses, as they put any troubling recollections behind them.
They wish to create fresh, more joyful memories at Forest Lodge, where they are believed to desire continuing their family life in comparative privacy – even when heir apparent William ultimately inherits the throne from his father, King Charles.
This raises questions regarding Buckingham Palace’s future, which could conceivably see no sovereign residing there going forward, despite currently serving as the Monarchy’s headquarters. And whilst Jennie reckons William will need to strike a balance between his craving for privacy and his public obligations, the Forest Lodge relocation “makes sense” for the time being.
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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.
“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.
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“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.”
The house previously underwent £1.5million of renovations in 2001(Image: PA)
However, it’s not just William who will be delighted with the move to Forest Lodge. Jennie reckons Kate will also appreciate the avoidance of 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.”