IT’S OFFICIAL: Princess Catherine and Prince William have moved into their new $22 million, eight-bedroom mansion, Forest Lodge, with George, Charlotte, and Louis. 🏰✨
The royal family’s fresh start comes after a challenging few years, and insiders say the estate’s lavish interiors, sprawling gardens, and private quarters are fit for true royalty. Fans are already swooning over the sneak-peek photos — and one secret feature has everyone talking.
IT’S OFFICIAL: Princess Catherine and Prince William Move Into New Home, Forest Lodge, with George, Charlotte and Louis, Marks a Fresh Start After a Challenging Few Years – Inside $22 Million Eight-bedroom Mansion Will Stun You
In a move that signals a new chapter for one of the world’s most closely watched families, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, have officially settled into Forest Lodge, their sprawling Georgian mansion nestled in the heart of Windsor Great Park. The eight-bedroom estate, valued at an estimated $22 million, is being hailed as the couple’s “forever home”—a private sanctuary where they plan to raise Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis well into adulthood, and potentially even after William ascends the throne. After three tumultuous years in the more modest Adelaide Cottage, this relocation represents not just an upgrade in square footage but a deliberate bid to leave behind the shadows of grief, illness, and family strife.
Kensington Palace confirmed the move earlier this month, with a spokesperson noting that the family transitioned during the children’s half-term break from Lambrook School, allowing George (12), Charlotte (10), and Louis (7) to ease into the change without disrupting their routines. “Windsor has become their home,” the statement read, echoing sentiments from royal insiders who describe Forest Lodge as a “fresh start” amid a period marked by profound personal and public challenges. The couple even hosted a low-key celebration at The York, a nearby pub, on October 31 to thank the builders and staff who expedited the renovations, ensuring an early November move-in ahead of the original Christmas timeline.
The decision to uproot from Adelaide Cottage—where the family has lived since September 2022—stems from a desire to escape what Prince William reportedly called a “cursed” chapter in their lives. Just weeks after settling into the four-bedroom pink-hued retreat, Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8, 2022, plunging the nation and the family into mourning. The cottage, intended as a cozy base near the late Queen during her final months, became a poignant reminder of loss. “Every part of Adelaide Cottage, sadly, had an unpleasant memory associated with it,” a source close to the family told the Daily Mail.
The hardships didn’t end there. In early 2024, Catherine bravely announced her cancer diagnosis following abdominal surgery, undergoing preventive chemotherapy that sidelined her from public duties for months. The revelation, delivered in a heartfelt video from the Windsor gardens, captivated the world and underscored the princess’s resilience amid intense media scrutiny. King Charles III’s own cancer battle, disclosed shortly after, compounded the family’s emotional load. Ongoing tensions with Prince Harry and Meghan, the Sussexes, have further strained familial bonds, with reports of limited reconciliation efforts. A reported security breach—a break-in on the Windsor estate grounds while the family was in residence—added to the sense of unease. “Over the last few years… there have been some really difficult times,” a royal source shared with the BBC. “Moving gives them an opportunity for a fresh start and a new chapter; an opportunity to leave some of the more unhappy memories behind.”
Adelaide Cottage, with its whimsical history and intimate scale, served the family well during these trials but ultimately proved too confining for their growing needs. Built in 1831 for Queen Adelaide, wife of King William IV, the Grade II*-listed property boasts a principal bedroom ceiling adorned with gilded dolphins and rope motifs salvaged from the royal yacht HMY Royal George—a nautical nod to Victorian opulence. Queen Victoria frequented it for tea, even burying her cherished spaniel, Dash, in its gardens. Later residents included Group Captain Peter Townsend, whose 1940s tenure there intertwined with his ill-fated romance with Princess Margaret. The Waleses embraced its “cottage” charm—no live-in staff, hands-on parenting, and proximity to Lambrook School—just a short drive away. Catherine often spoke of Windsor’s green spaces as a “sanctuary,” aligning with her advocacy for nature’s healing power through initiatives like her Mother Nature video series.
Yet, at just four bedrooms, the home felt increasingly snug as the children matured. Sources indicate it was never the couple’s long-term vision; their original Windsor preference was the grander Royal Lodge, but Prince Andrew’s long-term lease thwarted that plan. Forest Lodge, by contrast, offers the space and seclusion they’ve craved—a practical choice for a future monarch balancing fatherhood with duty.
Tucked away in a private corner of the 4,800-acre Windsor Great Park, Forest Lodge is a vision of Georgian elegance that will undoubtedly stun visitors when (or if) it’s ever opened for select events. Constructed in the 1770s and originally dubbed Holly Grove, the red-brick mansion was acquired by the Crown Estate in 1829 and served as the Deputy Ranger’s residence until the 1930s. Landscape architect Humphry Repton is credited with enhancing its grounds, creating pleasure gardens and a “Great Bridge” over Virginia Water Lake. Enlarged in the early 20th century, it’s Grade II-listed for its architectural merit, featuring six chimneys, nine bay windows, and a facade adorned with stucco pilasters.
Step inside, and the interiors promise a blend of historic grandeur and modern family functionality. The drawing and sitting rooms boast marble fireplaces, evoking the estate’s 18th-century roots, while a chandelier-lit ballroom hints at potential for elegant soirees—though William and Catherine prioritize quiet family evenings over lavish galas. With eight bedrooms, there’s ample room for the children to claim their own spaces: perhaps George in a corner suite overlooking the paddock, Charlotte in a light-filled bay-windowed room for her budding artistic pursuits, and Louis in a playful nook near the tennis court. The couple’s master suite, one imagines, will echo Adelaide’s nautical theme but on a grander scale, with views commanding the forest, Windsor Castle, and distant countryside.
The $22 million valuation reflects not just the structure but the unparalleled estate: expansive woodlands for nature walks (a balm for Catherine’s well-documented love of the outdoors), a private pond for lazy summer afternoons, and a tennis court where the family can channel their competitive spirits—William’s athletic prowess meets Kate’s graceful serve. Security enhancements, funded privately by William via the Duchy of Cornwall, include new gates, obscured views with additional tree plantings, and restricted access via Cranbourne Gate, ensuring privacy in this once-public-adjacent haven.
Notably, the Waleses are bucking royal tradition by forgoing live-in staff, mirroring their Adelaide setup. Longtime nanny Maria Turrion Borrallo and housekeepers will reside in nearby cottages (once the estate’s stables), allowing the family to cook family dinners and handle bedtime routines themselves—a deliberate choice to foster normalcy for heirs to the throne. They’re paying market rent to the Crown Estate, underscoring their commitment to fiscal responsibility amid public funding debates.
The move hasn’t been without controversy. Two families renting former stable cottages on the grounds were relocated to similar properties elsewhere in the park, sparking whispers of “evictions”—though palace sources insist no formal notices were issued, and the tenants were offered upgrades for security reasons. Proximity to Royal Lodge, home to Prince Andrew until his recent lease revocation amid Epstein scrutiny, raised Catherine’s reported unease, but the properties’ separation by fields and woods mitigates daily overlap.
For the children, Forest Lodge promises continuity and growth. Lambrook remains a quick drive away, where George prepares for high school transitions, Charlotte thrives in extracurriculars, and Louis embodies the joyful mischief that endears him to the public. Grandparents Carole and Michael Middleton, just 30 minutes down the road in Berkshire, will no doubt be frequent visitors, their hands-on role a cornerstone of the Waleses’ grounded parenting. The estate’s rural idyll echoes Catherine’s own Berkshire childhood, a deliberate echo in shaping her heirs’ worldview.
As William jets to Brazil for the Earthshot Prize—his environmental passion project—the family settles into this new rhythm. Their first joint outing post-move, at the Remembrance Sunday service on November 9, saw Catherine radiant in a black coat and pearl earrings, a subtle nod to resilience. Forest Lodge isn’t just bricks and mortar; it’s a canvas for healing, laughter, and legacy-building. In its sun-dappled halls, the Waleses envision barbecues by the pond, Christmas mornings in the ballroom, and quiet evenings watching the children chase fireflies through the ancient oaks.
This relocation underscores a modern monarchy: one rooted in privacy, purpose, and perseverance. After years of storms, Forest Lodge gleams as a beacon of hope—a stunning testament to a family’s unyielding spirit. As one insider put it, “It’s where they’ll make memories that last a lifetime.” The world watches, but for now, the gates are closed, and the fresh start begins.
