Why the Waleses’ 2022 relocation was only ever meant as a trial run
Life in Windsor appears to be suiting the Wales family well. The children are thriving at Lambrook School, and both William and Catherine have grown firmly rooted in the community. Now, two years after their initial move, the family is preparing for an even bigger change.
Later this year, they will leave behind the cosy four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage for the grander Forest Lodge, a Grade II-listed property tucked inside Windsor Great Park. With eight bedrooms spread over three floors, a chandelier-lit ballroom, Venetian windows, a tennis court, and expansive grounds, the house offers far more space than their current home.
When William and Catherine relocated from Kensington Palace in 2022, the move was seen as an experiment to test if Windsor could work as a long-term base. According to insiders, Adelaide Cottage was always intended as a stepping stone, a way to settle into local life before committing to something larger. That test seems to have been passed with ease.
Forest Lodge itself has a long royal connection, part of the Crown Estate since 1829, and underwent an extensive £1.5 million renovation in 2001. It is now set to become the family’s permanent home. Unlike some previous arrangements, the couple will pay market rent themselves, though the exact figure remains confidential for commercial reasons.
Planning permission has been granted for limited internal and external updates, all of which William and Catherine will cover privately. The future king is said to be keen on maintaining as normal a routine as possible for his family even after ascending the throne, and the move to Forest Lodge reflects that intention.
For the Waleses, what began as a trial run in 2022 has evolved into a long-term commitment to Windsor life—a shift locals describe as a “step up” that firmly roots the family in the heart of the community.
