Prince William and Kate Middleton’s move to Forest Lodge was a huge decision on their part. It’s not just about uprooting their family for more square footage, it’s about looking at the bigger picture as the future King and Queen of England. 

With The Sun making a notable point that Forest Lodge is expected to be their “forever home,” it begs the question as to what will happen to Buckingham Palace. It has long been considered the central headquarters of the royal family, but it’s currently undergoing a $463 million renovation — that’s why King Charles III and Queen Camilla are currently residing at Clarence House. 

Still, Peopleis reporting that the renovations will be ongoing through 2027, and Charles and Camilla will not be moving back in. The same goes for William and Kate, who have vastly different plans for their young family. They prefer the quiet privacy that Windsor affords them and their three children:  Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.

In continuing with their Adelaide Cottage tradition, People also noted that Kate and William will refrain from bringing in live-in staff at Forest Lodge. The Prince of Wales’ decision also aligns with his wife’s perspective after her cancer battle in 2024. 

The Times described it as a “downsizing” of their royal life; they don’t want the trappings of Buckingham Palace. The U.K. outlet wrote, “…She’s no longer prepared to fake the role of Princess, and this house move is part of a bigger shift towards ‘normality’ away from the stuffy world her husband’s mother inhabited.”

The Sun also shared that the royal couple is expected to pay for all of their moving expenses and renovations to Forest Lodge. They don’t want any Prince Harry and Meghan Markle headlines about taxpayer dollars used, especially in a tough economy. (And don’t forget, the Sussexes paid back their $3.1 million tab in 2020.)

The smaller lifestyle was “driven by Kate,” per The Times, but it sounds like both of them are on board. 

“Windsor has become their home,” a source explained to 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. They see it as their forever home.”

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