The Prince and Princess of Wales have moved into their ‘forever home’ of Forest Lodge much earlier than anticipated – with Kate going above and beyond to thank those who made the move possible
Prince William and Princess Kate, along with their three children George, Charlotte and Louis, have officially moved into their ‘forever home’ of Forest Lodge on the Windsor estate, with their move coming much earlier than expected.
The Waleses had previously lived in Adelaide Cottage since 2022, and were hoping to move into the Grade II-listed eight bedroom mansion before Christmas. However, a dedicated team of builders and staff, who worked tirelessly to get the home ready for the royal family, made the move happen a month early.
To thank those who made it possible for William, Kate and the children to settle into their new home before Bonfire Night, the Prince and Princess of Wales put on a thank you party for everyone involved in the renovation process.
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On Friday, William and Kate served drinks and nibbles at The York Club, a private pub near their new home. The venue is a members-only club for residents and employees of the Crown Estate which manages much of the property on the estate, including the Waleses’ own.
“The couple very sweetly just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has worked tirelessly to help,” a local source said. The family have spent the recent half-term holiday completing the move, giving Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, ten, and seven-year-old Prince Louis time to settle in before returning to school on Monday.
The family have been keen to move out of Adelaide Cottage on the Berkshire estate for a “fresh start”, with William often claiming that the four-bedroom family home was “cursed”.
Although the Waleses had planned to live in Adelaide Cottage for several more years, their time there has been clouded by unhappy memories. After weeks of moving in in August 2022, the late Queen Elizabeth passed away.
In the months following, William and Kate were faced with revelations against the royal family in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ’s Netflix docuseries, which was followed closely by Harry’s memoir Spare.
Then in 2024, both Kate and King Charles were diagnosed with cancer, as the princess underwent a course of preventative chemotherapy, with William describing the experience as “brutal” on the entire family.
While Kate is now in remission, sources have said the experience has been mentally ‘scarring’ for the family, making them more determined to make decisions based on what is best for themselves.
A royal insider said: “Every part of Adelaide Cottage, sadly, had an unpleasant memory associated with it. It’s a lovely house and they started with such high hopes, but in the end they have experienced some of their most challenging times there as a family… Little wonder that William feels like it was cursed.”
Kensington Palace has said that the couple intend to remain in Forest Lodge even after William ascends to the throne, in a huge break with royal tradition. The Waleses’ have funded the move and refurbishment themselves and will be paying market rent to the Crown Estate.
