Have you heard the news yet? It looks like Prince William and his wife Kate have exciting times ahead. A new chapter in their lives is about to start. And it’s one that the couple seems especially thrilled about. Their latest announcement has taken royal fans around the world by surprise. And now everyone’s just waiting to hear more.
So, what exactly is happening? When is it happening? And how will it affect the rest of The Firm? Read on to find out everything you need to know about William and Kate’s latest move!
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What is William and Kate’s big news?
William and Kate are moving to a new house! After three years in Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, just over 20 miles outside of London, it seems the royal pair is ready to start a new chapter together with their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Kate and William, who have been married since spring 2011, moved into their current home, a charming four-bedroom right on the Windsor Castle grounds, just three years ago, in August 2022, to escape the hustle and bustle of the capital city.
The cottage was originally built in 1831 for Queen Adelaide (hence the name!), wife of King William IV, and has served as Kate and William’s family refuge, where they’re trying to raise their three kids as normally as possible, away from the public eye and without any live-in staff. Previously, they made their home at Apartment 1 at Kensington Palace, one of the most well-known royal estates and a tourist magnet.
Of course, considering we’re talking about royals, the big move doesn’t mean that the family will live at their new address all year round. Kate and William have kept the place at Kensington Palace as their London base, and they also own Anmer Hall in Norfolk.
Where are they moving?
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The Prince and Princess of Wales and their kids are moving into Forest Lodge, an eight-bedroom listed Georgian mansion inside Windsor Great Park. The mini castle is three stories high and boasts red bricks, Venetian windows, marble fireplaces and stucco mouldings, as well as an entrance hall with a barrel vaulted ceiling. There’s also an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and 58 acres of land, including lakes, stables and a rose garden. So, it’s definitely a major upgrade in both size and luxury! Forest Lodge is 328 years old and owned by King Charles‘s Crown Estate. Experts estimate it’s worth over $20 million.
Kate and William (or better: their staff) won’t have to move their belongings far, as Forest Lodge is just four miles away from the family’s current home, Adelaide Cottage. It seems a perfect solution, including for the kids, who are already used to living on the Windsor Castle grounds and can stay at their schools.
When are they moving?
“The Wales family will move house later this year,” a Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed to CNN after rumors about the new family home started floating around. An official move-in date hasn’t been announced, but it seems safe to say that Kate, William and the kids will have settled by Christmas at the very latest and will spend the holidays in their new home. The three main holidays (Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day) are traditionally spent with the rest of the family at Sandringham, mortifying joke gifts and a mouthwatering Christmas foodie feast included.
Why are they moving?
It seems Kate and William are craving a fresh start after a couple of years full of tragedies and challenges. “Windsor has become their home. However, over the last few years, while they have lived at Adelaide Cottage, there have been some really difficult times,” a royal source told the BBC. “It’s an opportunity to leave some of the more unhappy memories behind.”
It seems only fair, considering how much the royal couple has been through recently: After 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022. Less than a year and a half later, the newly crowned King Charles was diagnosed with cancer, forcing him to scale back his royal duties (and William, the first in line to the throne, and Kate to step up). In March 2023, the next royal shock announcement followed: Charles wasn’t the only one with a serious illness. Kate had cancer too! She’s now in remission, and we can only imagine how much she’s longing for a change of scenery.
How does King Charles feel about the move?
When rumors about Kate and William’s new home first made the rounds, a palace source revealed that King Charles wasn’t too happy about the couple’s moving plans. “It’ll take millions to renovate. Charles sees it as an unnecessary extravagance,” a source claimed. However, it seems the waters have since calmed down. According to media reports, Kate and William have agreed to pay for the renovations themselves and will also pay market rent on their new home.
Will this be their forever home?
It looks like that’s the plan. As the British media reports, the family could even stay at Forest Lodge once William becomes king. Traditionally, the monarch’s official residency is Buckingham Palace in London. However, the current King Charles hasn’t actually lived there since childhood. Buckingham Palace is currently undergoing extensive renovations and won’t be finished until late 2027. And it seems that Charles, who currently lives at nearby Clarence House with his wife, Queen Camilla, isn’t too sad about that. According to The Times, he’s “no fan of ‘the big house,’ as he calls the palace” and plans to open it to the public rather than move in himself. It seems his son William might follow in his footsteps.
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Sources:
- BBC: “‘A fresh start’: William and Kate to move to new Windsor home”
- BBC: “King Charles diagnosed with cancer, Buckingham Palace says”
- BBC: “Kate, Princess of Wales: I am having cancer treatment”
- CNN: “Prince and Princess of Wales set to move into new home in Windsor”
- The Times: “Prince Charles ‘won’t live at Buckingham Palace’, say royal insiders”
- Royal.uk: “Reservicing Buckingham Palace”
- Historic England: “Forest Lodge”
- The Independent: “Where is Prince William and Kate Middleton’s new house? Inside the historic lodge set to become their ‘forever home’”
- Town & Country: “Inside Adelaide Cottage, Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Home in Windsor”
- Marie Claire: “King Charles Is allegedly unimpressed by Prince William and Princess Kate’s house move”