Two royal couples, two dream homes — but which one truly stands out?
Prince William and Catherine are preparing to swap their four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage for Forest Lodge, an eight-bedroom home tucked away in Windsor Great Park. The move marks a new chapter for the family and has naturally drawn comparisons to Harry and Meghan’s glamorous life in California.
Forest Lodge sits in the heart of the 4,800-acre park and is steeped in history. Built over three centuries ago, the grade II-listed home boasts Venetian windows, marble fireplaces, intricate plasterwork, and even a vaulted hallway ceiling. Although the property is thought to be worth up to £16m today, it’s modest when set against Prince Andrew’s sprawling 31-bedroom Royal Lodge or Harry and Meghan’s $29m estate in Montecito.
The Windsor home, owned by the King through the Crown Estate, is being refreshed with renovations reportedly paid for by William and Catherine themselves. It’s only four miles from Adelaide Cottage, keeping the family close to their established life in Windsor. Forest Lodge was last restored in 2001 at a cost of £1.5m and even appeared on the rental market for £15,000 a month.
William, as Duke of Cornwall, benefits from the Duchy of Cornwall estate valued at around £1bn. Reports suggest the Duchy provides him with an annual income of about $30m. In a recent conversation about her health, Catherine described nature as her “sanctuary” — making Forest Lodge, with its sweeping parkland surroundings, a fitting place for healing and renewal.
Prince Harry and Meghan’s Montecito paradise
Across the Atlantic, Harry and Meghan’s Montecito mansion is every bit the Californian dream. Purchased in 2020 after leaving Frogmore Cottage, the $29m estate is where they’re raising their children Archie and Lilibet.
The property is designed for both privacy and play. Indoors, it offers a library, shared office, gym, games room, sauna, wine cellar, and even an arcade. Outside, there’s a pool, tennis court, chicken coop, rose gardens, and a terrace with a wood-fired oven perfect for family evenings. With 16 bathrooms and ample space, it’s as much a lifestyle retreat as it is a home.
Two worlds, two visions of royal life
While William and Catherine are choosing the historic charm of Windsor and a life firmly rooted in the traditions of the Crown, Harry and Meghan have embraced the Californian sunshine, carving out independence in a home designed for freedom and family living.
From Windsor’s rolling parkland to Montecito’s sunlit hills, the contrast is striking. One couple leans on heritage and duty, while the other embraces reinvention. The question is less about which estate is grander — and more about which lifestyle feels like the ultimate royal dream.
