Kate Middleton and Prince William Are Officially Moving to Their $21 Million “Forever Home” As They Seek a “Fresh Start”

The Wales family plans to stay at their new home, Forest Lodge, even after the Prince of Wales becomes king.

The Gist

• After what Prince William called a “brutal” season in their lives, he, Kate Middleton, and their three children are moving homes by the end of the year.
• The family of five currently live in Adelaide Cottage, a four-bedroom property on the Windsor estate; they are moving to Forest Lodge, an eight-bedroom property that the couple considers their “forever home.”
• The Prince and Princess of Wales are looking for a “fresh start” after a difficult period, including Kate’s cancer diagnosis.

Changes are afoot for Kate Middleton and Prince William as they prepare for a “fresh start” and a move into their “forever home.”

After living at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor for three years—the family of five moved just before Queen Elizabeth’s death in 2022—the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are set to stay in Windsor but move to the eight-bedroom Forest Lodge, where they plan to fund renovations themselves and will continue to have no live-in staff. Forest Lodge is nestled in Windsor Great Park, and The Sun reported that the Wales family plans to stay in Forest Lodge even after William becomes king—whenever that may be.

It has been a difficult three years for the family since moving from Kensington Palace in London to the more private Adelaide Cottage—soon after their move, Queen Elizabeth died on September 8, 2022, and 2024 saw both the Princess of Wales and King Charles diagnosed with cancer. While Kate is in remission, the King’s cancer treatment continues up to the present day.

The Sun reported that William and Kate “are paying for the move and rent at no extra cost to the taxpayer.” Work has already started on minor internal and external renovations at the 328-year-old home, with the family hoping to move by Christmas. “Kate has already been spotted picking new furniture to kit out the new abode, including a 24-seater table,” the outlet reported, and Kensington Palace confirmed to the publication that “The Wales family will move house later this year.”

“Windsor has become their home,” a source close to the Wales family told The Sun. “However, over the last few years while they have lived at Adelaide Cottage, there have been some really difficult times. Moving gives them an opportunity for a fresh start and a new chapter; an opportunity to leave some of the more unhappy memories behind.”

“This is a move for the long-term,” the insider added. “They see it as their forever home.”

William and Kate moved their family into the four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage as a test of life in Windsor, to see if it worked for them as a family. Living in Windsor—which is nearby Lambrook, where all three kids attend school—allows the couple to be “as hands on as possible” as parents while also balancing their work commitments as royals.

Buzz about the Wales family moving homes has picked up this summer, but many thought they were headed for the gothic revival mansion Fort Belvedere; while reports of the family moving were correct, it’s Forest Lodge that will be their home. Minor repairs are currently being made like new doors and windows, renovated ceilings, and new floors, and the home is estimated to be worth around $21.6 million (£16 million) if put on the open market.

The three-story red brick property comes with several cottages, a large pond, and a tennis court, The Sun reported. Forest Lodge is just four miles from Adelaide Cottage, The Telegraph reported, so they won’t have far to move.