Inside Forest Lodge, Prince William and Kate Middleton’s New Home

The royals have officially moved.

he Prince and Princess of Wales are ready for a new beginning. Following a challenging 18 months in the wake of Princess Kate’s cancer treatment, the Royal Family has officially moved into their new home, a Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed.

Prince William and his family were living in the four bedroom Adelaide Cottage since fall of 2022, when they relocated from Kensington Palace. The Wales family reportedly moved to an unstaffed country home during school terms to give their three children, George (12), Charlotte (10), and Louis (7), a more conventional home life, according to CNN. Their new home, Forest Lodge, is located only a short distance away from Adelaide cottage in Windsor Great Park. The family moved during the children’s half-term break from Lambrook School, allowing all three children to remain enrolled at their school and continue to enjoy the private family life they’ve grown accustomed to outside of London.

The move was completed earlier than originally planned—the family was initially expected to relocate around Christmas 2025, but moved in by early November instead. Prince William and Kate even threw a celebration party on October 31 at The York, a pub near Forest Lodge, to thank the builders and staff who worked to make their early move-in possible.

The eight bedroom Georgian-style Forest Lodge property (originally named “Holly Grove”) was built in the 1770s, and came into the possession of the Crown Estate in 1829, per Town & Country. It went on the market following a £1.5 million renovation in 2001—which brought about our most recent peeks at the ornate cornices and plasterwork, original stonework, and one half-barrel vaulted ceiling inside. Earlier in 2025, permissions were granted by the Royal Borough of Windsor for “minor internal and external alterations” (including a window removal and fireplace adaptations), per the BBC.

A sign advising of the permanent closures of Cranborne Gate car park in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire,

While ELLE Decor previously reported on the interior features that made the ‘modest’ Adelaide Cottage worthy of its Royal inhabitants (see historic “gilded dolphins and rope ornament” in the primary bedroom, a Greco-Egyptian marble fireplace, and more), the much larger Forest Lodge offers more opportunity for elaborate furnishings and storied decor. Given past privacy issues, we’re not counting on any insider looks at the estate now that the Waleses have settled in. But to fuel our design fantasies, we do know that it includes a ballroom, a tennis court, six chimneys, and eight bay windows. The property is estimated to be worth up to £16 million ($21 million) if it were on the open market, according to The Independent.

A view inside a Forest Lodge hallway during its 2001 renovation.

Given the tumultuous nature of the last several years for the young Royal Family— including the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the coronation of King Charles III, and both Charles and Kate navigating cancer diagnoses in 2024—it makes perfect sense that they’re seeking a “forever home” to fill with new memories and mark their next chapter. A royal insider told the BBC that “this move provides them with a chance for a fresh beginning and a new chapter. It allows them to leave behind some of the more distressing memories.“ Sources told the BBC that the family plans to raise their children to adulthood at Forest Lodge, and that the estate’s already rich history will likely be marked by a new Royal milestone: It will be where William and Kate will eventually become (and potentially live as) King and Queen.

William’s decision to maintain Forest Lodge as his residence even after becoming King marks a departure from centuries of monarchs living at Buckingham Palace. The Palace, which is currently undergoing a decade-long £369 million renovation, is expected to serve more as the monarchy’s headquarters rather than a family home, similar to how Queen Elizabeth II viewed it as her “office” while considering Windsor her true home.

John Stillwell – PA Images//Getty Images
Forest Lodge interior amidst 2001 renovation.

This shift comes as King Charles himself is unlikely to ever use Buckingham Palace as his primary residence, instead remaining at Clarence House even after the Palace renovations are completed in 2027. The extensive renovation means Buckingham Palace will not host state visits until 2027, with Windsor Castle taking over ceremonial duties for the next three years.

The family is paying market rent on the property rather than using public funds. Despite the larger eight-bedroom estate, Prince William and Kate will continue not to have any live-in staff at Forest Lodge, maintaining the more conventional family lifestyle they’ve cultivated at Adelaide Cottage.