Royal move to Forest Lodge confirmed

Eight bedroom Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park is the royal couple's proposed home with planned renovations.

William and Kate Pick Forest Lodge as Their Forever Home

Forest Lodge, an eight-bedroom Georgian house inside Windsor Great Park, is set to become the home of the Prince and Princess of Wales. The property is owned by the Crown Estate and sits about four miles from Adelaide Cottage. A June planning application seeks minor internal and external renovations, including new doors and windows, ceiling work and floor updates. The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has approved the plans and the couple will fund the work. The house was last renovated in 2001 to prepare it for rental at around £15 000 a month, and it could be valued at as much as £16 million on the open market.

The move is framed as a fresh start for the family and could become their main residence after William succeeds to the throne. The step follows their 2022 shift from Kensington Palace to Adelaide Cottage in Berkshire, a change tied to family life and schooling for the children. The decision comes amid a busy period for the royal family, including personal health challenges and public scrutiny over royal finances. While the couple will cover renovations themselves, the choice highlights how royal families balance private wishes with public questions about money and accountability.

Moving to Forest Lodge signals a new chapter for the Prince and Princess of Wales, chosen for space and seclusion in a historic setting. Yet it also puts a spotlight on how royal households manage property costs and funding. The claim of a private investment in renovations contrasts with past debates over public money used for royal homes. In Windsor, the move could strengthen ties to the community and the countryside, while raising questions about how much of the royal family’s future is financed by taxpayers and who bears the cost of long term upkeep.

Highlights

A move to a larger home marks a new chapter for a royal couple and a city not far from their current life