The Prince and Princess of Wales are preparing for a move that is far more than just a change of address. Later this year, William and Catherine will relocate from the modest Adelaide Cottage to the grand Forest Lodge, nestled in Windsor Great Park. For the Wales family, this represents a step into permanence—a “forever home” that will serve not only as a family residence but also as a symbol of their evolving role within the monarchy. While they will still keep access to their other royal homes, Kensington Palace in London and Anmer Hall in Norfolk, Forest Lodge offers something unique: space, privacy, and the ability to merge family life with duty in a way their current home cannot.
Adelaide Cottage, though charming, is small by royal standards. With only four bedrooms, it has just enough space for William, Catherine, and their three children, but it leaves little room for staff, offices, or hosting guests—an essential part of royal life. Forest Lodge, with its eight bedrooms and extensive grounds, solves these problems while keeping the family close to Lambrook School, where George, Charlotte, and Louis are currently enrolled. In fact, the new home is ten minutes closer to the school, making those daily school runs—something William and Catherine are keen to do themselves—far easier.
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Forest Lodge, once known as Holly Grove, is no ordinary property. A Grade II listed building, it has been carefully restored over the past two decades. Two million pounds were spent on renovations in 2001, modernizing the house while preserving its historic charm. At the time, the property was valued at around £5.5 million and was even listed for rental at £120,000 a month. The house features soaring ceilings adorned with intricate plasterwork, paneled walls, and a sweeping staircase that evokes the elegance of an earlier era. Its entrance hall, decorated in soft butter yellow with a vaulted ceiling, hints at grandeur, complete with fittings for a chandelier. Large reception rooms filled with natural light, marble fireplaces, Venetian windows, and exposed brickwork give the mansion both warmth and majesty.
Beyond the interiors, the estate is equally impressive. It boasts three stables, two guest houses converted from old garages, a tennis court, a pond, and expansive gardens. This is not just a family home—it is a small estate in itself, designed for privacy, leisure, and functionality. Even in its unfinished state decades ago, the house radiated potential, and it is likely that William and Catherine’s renovations have only polished its grandeur further. Local planning applications confirm that the couple is funding the necessary updates themselves, ensuring that no taxpayer money is spent—a move that underscores their desire to balance tradition with modern responsibility.
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Like many old estates, Forest Lodge comes with whispers of history and perhaps even the supernatural. Royal residences are no strangers to ghost stories, and even Anmer Hall—William and Catherine’s Norfolk retreat—is said to host the spirit of a Catholic priest executed centuries ago. According to paranormal historian Richard Felix, his voice has been heard, and his figure spotted wandering the halls. When William and Catherine were warned about this before moving in, Prince William reportedly shrugged it off, remarking that no old hall would be complete without a ghost. Whether Forest Lodge harbors its own spectral resident remains to be seen.
The move also coincides with an important chapter in the Wales children’s lives. Prince George is approaching the age where decisions about senior school must be made, with Eton—famed for its prestige and hefty fees of over £63,000 a year—believed to be the leading contender. Proximity to such schools and the ability to raise their children in a stable, grounded environment no doubt played a role in the family’s decision to settle at Forest Lodge. Interestingly, just as in Adelaide Cottage, the Waleses will not live with full-time staff in their new home, emphasizing their preference for as normal a family life as possible, despite the spotlight they live under.
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There have been small controversies surrounding the move, particularly because two neighboring families—who lived in cottages converted from Forest Lodge’s old stables—were asked to relocate to make way for the royal couple. However, reports confirm that no one was formally evicted, and the tenants were rehoused in equally suitable Crown Estate properties nearby.
The timing of this move is symbolic. The years at Adelaide Cottage have been overshadowed by challenges, including the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the recent health struggles faced by King Charles and Princess Catherine. Forest Lodge offers the family a fresh start, a home where they can retreat from the pressures of public duty and find balance between their roles as parents and future king and queen. It is as much a sanctuary as it is a royal residence.
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Ultimately, Forest Lodge is more than bricks and mortar; it is a statement of intent. For William and Catherine, it represents stability, longevity, and an investment in their family’s future. In choosing this home, they are not only ensuring space and privacy for their children to grow but also securing a base from which they will continue to serve the Crown. Within its historic walls and sweeping gardens, the Wales family is preparing to write the next chapter of their royal story—a story where duty and family, history and future, all converge under one roof.
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