The Prince and Princess of Wales are ready for a new beginning—or at least, a new home. Following a challenging 18 months in the wake of Princess Kate’s cancer treatment, the Royal Family will move later this year, a Palace spokesperson confirmed.
Prince William and his family have been living in the four bedroom Adelaide Cottage since fall of 2022, when they relocated from Kensington Palace. The Waleses 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 home-to-be, Forest Lodge, is located only a short distance away from Adelaide cottage in Windsor Great Park. The BBC reports that the upcoming move will allow all three children to remain enrolled at Lambrook School, and continue to enjoy the private family life they’ve grown accustomed to outside of London.
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. This summer, 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 view inside a Forest Lodge hallway during its 2001 renovation.
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 once the Waleses settle in. But to fuel our design fantasies, we do know that it includes a ballroom, a tennis court, six chimneys, and eight bay windows.
Forest Lodge interior amidst 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. Sources tell 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 and Kate will be funding the move and renovations to Forest Lodge privately, BBC notes. The family is expected to move in by the end of 2025.
Grace McCarty is a freelance Associate Digital Editor at ELLE Decor, where she covers design trends, shopping, and culture. She previously held a staff position at SELF Magazine, where she focused on beauty, style, and wellness. Her work has also appeared in Glamour and Parade.