Prince William may be the next king but he is doing things his own way, and royal experts predict this is only the beginning when it comes to him and Kate Middleton moving to Forest Lodge.

The Prince and Princess of Wales confirmed their new big move last week. The Wales’ will be packing up their belongings in Adelaide Cottage and heading off to a bigger home as part of the royal household.

But after comments that they won’t be living in a castle or palace when they take the throne, what are the other reasons Prince William and Kate Middleton chose Forest Lodge? It seems it’s their children were a driving force behind the decision.
It’ll be an upgrade to their current home (Credit: Cover Images)

Prince William and Kate Middleton move to Forest Lodge ‘for their children’

It’s no surprise when privacy comes to mind. William’s brother Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle left their jobs within The Firm for the exact same reason. However, the future king isn’t doing anything as drastic. Instead, he’s opting for a bigger home over moving thousands of miles away.

It’s said that William is choosing to prioritise his children’s privacy when it comes to his future, and that includes Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Dubbed a ‘king in waiting’, the heir is reportedly already preparing for his time on the throne. From planning his coronation to ironing out details of what it means to be at the forefront of a ‘modern monarchy’ – he has it covered.

Until that moment arrives, though, he is focusing on issues closer to home.

It’s believed his family, including wife Kate Middleton, are one of the main reasons she and Prince William are moving to Forest Lodge in Windsor. The area offers them greater privacy than other royal estates, as well as a ordinary way of life.

The parents have often tried to keep their children well-balanced, something William learned from his mother the late Princess Diana.
Prince William and Kate Middleton are moving to Forest Lodge ‘for their children’ (Credit: Cover Images)

William is ‘concerned’ over privacy

Former BBC royal correspondent, Jennie Bond, has claimed Prince William is ‘almost obsessive’ over his children’s privacy – and the move to Forest Lodge with his and Kate Middleton’s three children shows that.

She says the future king “is much more a protective husband and dad than a king in waiting”.

Ms Bond explained: “After a childhood spent shuffling between the homes of his quarrelling parents, William is determined to give his family the stability he missed.

“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 live in the middle of a major tourist attraction like the palace or castle.”

She added he wanted to provide his children with a “comfy and settled home life” because he “never had it before he married”.

William’s parents divorced in 1996, when he was only 14 years old. Although Princess Diana and the then Prince Charles had been separated for a number of years, the divorce was finalised after a nudge from the late Queen. Sadly, his mother Diana passed away in a car crash in Paris the following year.

Read more: Kate Middleton and Prince William’s wedding – A fairytale fit for the future king and queen
Prince William and Kate Middleton are the next king and queen consort of Britain (Credit: Cover Images)

Big move for the Wales family

It was revealed last week that the parents are moving their three children from four-bed Adelaide Cottage to eight-bed mansion in Windsor.

The Forest Lodge move is expected to be take place before the end of the year, as Prince William and Kate Middleton oversea minor renovation works.

It’s also been claimed that this is their forever home, even after William ascends to the throne after his dad King Charles. If so, it means the duo will break a royal tradition that has stood the test of time for centuries.

Picking the Grade II listed, three-storey, mansion will break away from what monarchs have done for generations. They would become the first king and queen not to live in a palace or castle for 1000 years.

But, it doesn’t mean it’s not steeped in royal history either. Forest Lodge dates back to 1780.