In a move that has captured the attention of royal watchers and Windsor locals alike, the Prince and Princess of Wales are preparing to relocate to a new home in Windsor Great Park later this year. The family, consisting of Prince William, Princess Catherine, and their three children—George, Charlotte, and Louis—will be leaving their current residence at Adelaide Cottage for the historic Forest Lodge, an eight-bedroom property steeped in centuries of royal history.
Kensington Palace confirmed the news on August 18, 2025, putting an end to swirling rumors that the couple might be eyeing Fort Belvedere instead. A Palace spokesperson stated, “The Wales family will move house later this year,” as reported by both BBC and CNN. The move is anticipated to take place by Christmastime, giving the family a fresh start just as the year draws to a close.
The decision to relocate comes after a particularly challenging period for the family. Over the past 18 months, Princess Catherine has faced a cancer diagnosis and undergone chemotherapy, a journey that led her to step back from public life. According to CNN, Catherine completed her chemotherapy by September 2025, sharing that she was “doing what I can to stay cancer free.” The family’s desire for a “fresh start and a new chapter” was echoed by a royal source who told the BBC, “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 new residence, Forest Lodge, is hardly a newcomer to royal circles. Built in the 1770s and originally known as Holly Grove, the property was purchased by the Crown Estate in 1829. For more than a century, it served as the official residence of the Deputy Ranger of Windsor Great Park. In 1937, King Edward VIII arranged for his Equerry, Sir John Aird, to rent the home, at which point it was renamed Forest Lodge. The house underwent a significant £1.5 million (about $2 million) restoration in the early 2000s, as noted by PA Media and Town & Country, and was subsequently placed on the market.
Forest Lodge is not just a step up in size—it’s a leap. While Adelaide Cottage features four bedrooms, the new home boasts eight bedrooms, a ballroom, and a tennis court, according to BBC and Town & Country. Photographs from the time of its restoration reveal original stonework, elaborate plaster cornices, and ornate ceiling decorations, all of which add to its grandeur and charm. Despite its stately features, the family reportedly plans to keep things as private and normal as possible. The BBC highlighted that the Waleses will not have live-in staff at Forest Lodge, mirroring their arrangements at Adelaide Cottage, in an effort to maintain a sense of normalcy for their children.
The move is also notable for its financial transparency. Both the BBC and NBC News have reported that Prince William and Princess Catherine are funding the move privately, with no money coming from the Sovereign Grant—the public fund that supports the monarchy. They will pay market rent for Forest Lodge, just as they do for their current home. “Any work carried out on Forest Lodge will not come from the Sovereign Grant which provides state funding for the monarchy. The Prince and Princess of Wales are funding the move privately and they will pay market rent on the property,” reported the BBC.
Not everyone in Windsor Great Park has escaped the ripple effects of the royal relocation. Two families living in cottages converted from Forest Lodge’s stables were asked to vacate their homes. The Mail on Sunday reported that, while no formal eviction notices were served, the tenants were “surprised” by the request but have since moved to similar or better housing elsewhere within the 4,800-acre Great Park. A source quoted by the Mail on Sunday remarked, “They were told to move out. I guess they were given somewhere else, but they were told they had to move. They were not expecting it. Those houses are very close to the lodge, so they're not going to want any Tom, Dick or Harry living in those houses if there are going to be royals there.”
This is not the first time the Wales family has sought a change of scene for the sake of their children’s well-being. In August 2022, they moved out of London during school term time in an effort to provide a more “normal” family life, a move that was met with both public curiosity and support. Their other homes, Anmer Hall on the Sandringham estate and Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace, remain part of their property portfolio, though their offices will continue to be based at Kensington Palace, according to NBC News.
The transition to Forest Lodge is being framed as more than just a change of address. Multiple outlets, including the BBC, have described the property as the family’s “forever home,” with the expectation that it will serve as their main residence when Prince William eventually ascends the throne as King and Princess Catherine becomes Queen. The proximity of Forest Lodge to Adelaide Cottage—described by CNN as just a “stone’s throw” away—means the family won’t be uprooting their lives entirely, but rather making a thoughtful, strategic shift designed to support both their privacy and their public roles.
As minor internal and external alterations get underway—permission for which was granted earlier this month, including the removal of a window and works to a fireplace—the Wales family is preparing for a new chapter in a home that blends royal tradition with their modern approach to family life. The move reflects not only their personal circumstances but also an evolving vision of what it means to be a royal family in the 21st century: balancing duty with the desire for privacy, tradition with the need for a sense of normalcy, and public scrutiny with the unwavering focus on their children’s well-being.
With the move set for later this year and anticipation building, Forest Lodge is poised to become a symbol of renewal for the Prince and Princess of Wales and their young family—a place where history and hope intertwine, and where the next chapter of their royal journey will quietly, but surely, unfold.
