Prince and Princess of Wales to settle at Forest Lodge, Windsor’s stately eight-bedroom home

The Prince and Princess of Wales are preparing to relocate to a new residence in Windsor, marking what royal insiders describe as a fresh start after a challenging period for the family.

William and Catherine will move with their three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — into Forest Lodge, an eight-bedroom home in Windsor Great Park, BBC reported. They have lived at Adelaide Cottage, a four-bedroom house on the castle grounds, since August 2022.

“Windsor has become their home. However, over the last few years while they have lived at Adelaide Cottage there have been some really difficult times,” the BBC quoted a royal source as saying. “Moving gives them an opportunity for a fresh start and a new chapter. It’s an opportunity to leave some of the more unhappy memories behind.”

The couple view Forest Lodge as a long-term base, with royal aides suggesting it could become their “forever home” when the Prince and Princess of Wales eventually become King and Queen. Like at Adelaide Cottage, the family are not expected to have live-in staff, focusing instead on maintaining as private a household as possible.

A private move

The move is being funded privately by William and Catherine. They will pay market rent for the property, with no costs covered by the Sovereign Grant, the system of public funding for the monarchy.

Forest Lodge underwent £1.5 million of restoration work in 2001 and was subsequently put on the rental market for £15,000 a month. At the time, images of the property highlighted original stonework, ornate plaster cornices, a half-barrel vaulted hallway ceiling and elaborate period details. More recently, planning applications lodged with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead approved minor alterations, including changes to a window and a fireplace.

Set in the heart of Windsor Great Park, the 4,800-acre royal estate, Forest Lodge offers expansive grounds, Venetian windows, a chandelier-lit ballroom and a tennis court.

Healing and nature

The decision to move also reflects Catherine’s well-documented love of the natural world. During her ongoing treatment for cancer, the princess has spoken about nature as her “sanctuary” and her belief in its healing power. She further underlined that passion in May, when she launched the Mother Nature video series.

The Wales family are expected to move into their new home by Christmas, where they hope to create what one insider called “many happy memories.”

Family life in Windsor

Since their move from Kensington Palace to Adelaide Cottage in 2022, William and Catherine have credited Windsor with giving their family greater privacy and freedom compared to London. Their children remain settled at Lambrook School, where all three are enrolled. The couple also continue to use Anmer Hall in Norfolk during school holidays, while their offices remain at Kensington Palace.

The family’s three years at Adelaide Cottage coincided with a difficult time for the monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II died just weeks after they settled in. In 2024, both King Charles and Catherine revealed cancer diagnoses.

Royal observers say that William and Catherine’s new home symbolises their desire to move forward. “Forest Lodge represents stability and a new chapter,” one insider said. “It’s not just a house — it’s a statement about the future.”