Exclusive pictures show how works are in full swing around Forest Lodge, the brand new home of the Prince and Princess of Wales, who are set to move in later this year
It has been dubbed their ‘forever home’ and the place where they will continue to live once they become King and Queen.
And the Prince and Princess of Wales are wasting no time in preparing Forest Lodge, their chosen property, so it’s ready for them to move in with their family later this year. William and Kate will be leaving their current four-bedroom home of Adelaide Cottage to move to the impressive eight-bedroom grade II listed property, which is nestled in Windsor Great Park.
The Mirror ’s exclusive pictures show how extensive works are in full swing to plant new trees and hedgerows, as well as erecting fences around the mansion to improve privacy.
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Scaffolding can also be seen to the left of the house, with painters and decorators understood to be sprucing up some of the rooms.
Redacted planning applications were lodged with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council in June and show permission was granted in July for minor internal and external alterations to the property.
These include new windows and doors, as well as renovated ceilings and floors. Meanwhile, Kate has reportedly been spotted picking out new furniture for the home – thought to include a fabulous 24-seater dining table.
Thoroughly modern royals, William and Kate are footing the cost of renovations privately, rather than taking money from the Sovereign Grant, to avoid any extra cost to the taxpayer. It is also understood that they will pay the market rent for their new home, which sources say they hope to move into by Christmas.
As with Adelaide Cottage, the Waleses are understood not to want any live-in staff at their new place, so that they can create a private family home environment.
More than 20 years ago, back in 2001, when Forest Lodge was given extensive restorations, costing £1.5million, prospective tenants were being asked for £15,000 a month.
Photographs taken inside the property at the time showed 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.”
William, Kate, and their three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis – have lived at their current Adelaide Cottage home, also in Windsor, for three years. They also have an apartment in Kensington Palace in London, as well as their country retreat of Anmer Hall in Norfolk.
Much has changed since they first moved to Windsor in August 2022. Just days after the move, the late Queen died, with William and Kate almost immediately being made Prince and Princess of Wales.
Then last year, the family faced what William described as a ‘brutal’ year with Kate’s major abdominal surgery, followed by her cancer diagnosis and subsequent chemotherapy treatment. She revealed she is in remission earlier this year and is gradually returning to royal duties.
Sources say this has meant the family have gone through some “really difficult times” at Adelaide Cottage, with the move marking a fresh start for the Waleses, as they leave any unhappy memories behind.
They want to forge new, happier memories at Forest Lodge, where they are understood to want to remain living as a family in relative privacy – even when heir to the throne William eventually succeeds his father, King Charles.
This means questions have been asked about the future of Buckingham Palace, which could potentially see no monarch living there in the future, despite it currently being Monarchy HQ.
And although Jennie believes William will have to balance his desire for privacy with his public duty, for now, the Forest Lodge move “makes sense”.
She explains: “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.
“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.”
But it’s not just William who will be happy about the move to Forest Lodge. Jennie believes Kate, too, will welcome staying away from any grander residences.
She adds: “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.”
