William and Kate and their three children are set to move from Adelaide Cottage into a new home, but one royal expert claims that a “difficult conversation” could come up in the future
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Prince William could face a “difficult conversation” about his family’s new £16 million home when he becomes king, a royal expert has warned. Recent reports suggest the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children, George, Charlotte, and Louis, are preparing to relocate from Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge, a £16 million mansion in Windsor Great Park.
A source previously told the Sun that the Waleses view the property as their “forever home,” but royal expert and biographer Robert Hardman believes this arrangement might not be “tenable.”
By tradition, the sovereign lives at Buckingham Palace, though with plans for a streamlined monarchy reportedly in the works, it’s suggested there could be a departure from royal protocol in future.
The late Queen Elizabeth was the final monarch to reside at the palace, which is presently undergoing a £369 million renovation.
Meanwhile, Charles and Camilla live at the nearby Clarence House. Buckingham Palace has served as the monarch’s official London residence since 1837.
Robert also highlighted the property’s significance and insisted there must be a “visceral connection” between the monarch and “Royal HQ.”
Robert told GB News: “When the late Queen came to the throne in 1952, she and Prince Philip had just done up Clarence House as a sort of family home with their two young children. They loved it, and they didn’t want to move. The Queen Mother, who was resident at Buckingham Palace, didn’t want to move out.”
He revealed the pair presented their proposals to then-Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who informed them they had to move into Buckingham Palace and that it was something the monarch simply had to do.
So, in terms of William, who is first in line to the throne after King Charles, using Forest Lodge as his “forever home,” Robert thinks it would lead to a “difficult conversation” with whoever is in the position of PM when he takes the throne.
He continued: “That will be a difficult conversation for whichever prime minister it is. Of course, Prince William will be a harder nut to crack for a future prime minister, but I think Buckingham Palace depends on having a visceral connection between the monarch and Royal HQ.”
Built between 1772 and 1782, the Grade II-listed Georgian property Forest Lodge was initially called “Holly Grove” and features elements including Venetian windows and Flemish-bond brickwork. The Wales family will be able to enjoy a ballroom, tennis court, pond, lake, and paddocks.
William and Kate’s prospective neighbours seem delighted at the possibility of them residing in the locality. Comments about them included “wonderful” and “good for the country”.
Jean Reeve, aged 87, expressed her happiness for them but had one wish for the family as they start this new chapter – that they be allowed to live “quietly as a family”.
She stated: “It’s a less private spot than their previous home – from what I know about the location. So I’d hate for people to always be going past and saying, ‘Oh, that’s where they live.'”
