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Prince William and Princess Kate have found a new family home, with the couple and their children officially leaving their lodgings at Adelaide cottage behind for the grander Forest Lodge in Windsor.
The news comes after recent rumours that the family were moving to the gothic-revival mansion of Fort Belvedere. Instead, the couple and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, have settled on the eight-bedroom Forest Lodge.
“Windsor has become their home. However, over the last few years while they have lived at Adelaide Cottage there have been some really difficult times,” a royal source told the BBC. “Moving gives them an opportunity for a fresh start and a new chapter…It’s an opportunity to leave some of the more unhappy memories behind.”
The family dealt with Kate’s cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy treatment while living at Adelaide cottage, and Kate has been vocal about relying on the power of nature during this period. Presumably, she will be looking forward to spending time within the expansive grounds of Windsor Great Park that surround their new home.
The sprawling grounds aren’t the only drawcard of this beautiful property. The home is a 328-year-old Georgian style mansion with plenty of desirable architectural features. The brick facade features stucco pilasters, while older photographs of the interiors show original stonework, ceiling decoration and ornate plaster cornices. Outside, there’s a tennis court, paddock and small lake.
Before the family move in, the home is being given a minor renovation. “The works include replacing doors and windows, stripping out internal walls, renovating the ceilings, and replacing some floors,” The Independent reports.
It’s understood that Prince William and Princess Catherine will be funding the move themselves and will be paying market rent. The property’s freehold is owned by King Charles.
At their current home, the family do not have any live-in staff and this won’t be changing at Forest Lodge. According to the BBC, the couple will “focus on creating as private a family home as is possible.” The move is also suggested to be a long-term one, with the family unlikely to move to Buckingham Palace even when William becomes King, making Forest Lodge their ‘forever home.’
The family are planning to move in by Christmas.
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