Prince William and Princess Kate ‘Want to Grow Old,’ ‘Create Magical Memories’ at Forest Lodge

Prince William and Princess Kate are moving on up. It’s been revealed the royal family — along with their three children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 — will be relocating from Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge, an eight-bedroom Georgian mansion on the grounds of Windsor Great Park this fall. “This is where William and Kate want to grow old together,” a source tells Star, “and create magical memories, even after they take the crown.”

It will be a new beginning for the family. Their time at Adelaide has been marked by grief and adversity: William’s grandmother Queen Elizabeth II died shortly after they moved to the four-bedroom home (also on the grounds of Windsor Castle) from London’s Kensington Palace in 2022. And in March 2024, Kate revealed she’d been diagnosed with cancer, just one month after William’s father, King Charles III, announced his cancer diagnosis.

Indeed, William has called 2024 “the hardest year of my life,” per BBC. In January, Kate announced she’s in remission. Now, says the source, William and Kate, both 43, “are beyond excited to put the stress of the past few years behind them with a fresh start in their dream home.”

Royal Details

The impressive three-story red brick property was built in the 1770s and purchased by the Crown Estate in 1829. Until the 1930s, it was home to the Deputy Ranger of the 4,800-acre Windsor Great Park; in the 1970s, there was talk the king’s sister, Princess Anne, would move in with then-husband Mark Phillips, but they never did. The house, leased for years, underwent a $2 million renovation in 2001 and features marble fireplaces, vaulted ceilings and nine bay windows, along with tennis courts and a view of Wembley Stadium (where William watches his beloved football matches), according to Tatler.

Kate and William are planning on further renovations, including putting in new doors, windows and floors, as well as making ceiling repairs. “They’re already working with a construction team to change things up and add some personal touches that will reflect their tastes,” says the source. “It’s being funded entirely out of their own pocket, they didn’t consider asking King Charles for a penny.” They’re also paying rent to the Crown Estate (in 2001, rent was $20,000 a month).

The move has sparked some controversy amid reports two families were forced from their homes to make room for the royals. A source told Daily Mail that tenants who were living in nearby cottages “were told they had to move.” (It’s believed they were relocated to similar housing in Windsor Great Park.)

While Forest Lodge boasts more square footage than Adelaide Cottage, William and Kate will continue to forego help from live-in staffers. “There will still be staff to assist with cleaning and taking care of the outdoors but the family will have the home to themselves,” explains the source. (Some speculate staff will be housed in the vacated cottages.) “It’s very different from how royals used to handle matters — there were almost always live-in staff and butlers tending to the senior royals’ every whim — but the Waleses don’t subscribe to that mentality. They also want to maintain a sense of normalcy for the kids.”

Close To School

The children are thrilled about the upgrade. “They can’t wait to decorate their new rooms,” says the source. The younger two will continue to attend the local Lambrook School, while the source says nearby Eton College (William’s alma mater) “is the most likely choice” for George next year. “Having the family home just down the street in Windsor is absolutely perfect as he’ll be able to come and go a lot more.”

Lots To Do

The move itself — scheduled to take place before Christmas — will be a bit stressful, especially amid grumbling that William and Kate aren’t doing enough royal engagements. They’ve been largely out of the public eye since attending Wimbledon in mid-July and reportedly enjoyed a secret family getaway in Greece, per Daily Mail.

“It’s widely believed Charles would like to see William and Kate step up and carry out more royal engagements,” says the source. “Still, it’s an exciting time and everyone’s thrilled Kate and William have picked their forever home. It’s a special moment for the whole family.”