Royal Shake-Up: Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Bold Move From Adelaide Cottage
Well, well, well. After three years of calling Adelaide Cottage home, Prince William and Kate Middleton have officially decided it’s time for a change of scenery. And honestly? Good for them.
Kensington Palace confirmed what royal watchers have been speculating for months: the Wales family is packing up and moving to a shiny new eight-bedroom property called Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park. Because apparently, four bedrooms just weren’t cutting it anymore for Britain’s future king and queen.
Why the Royal Family Is Trading Up
Let’s be real here—Adelaide Cottage has seen some serious drama over the past few years. Between Kate’s cancer diagnosis and King Charles III’s own health battles, that little four-bedroom residence probably feels more like a medical wing than a family home at this point.
A royal insider spilled to The Sun (because of course they did), saying Windsor has become their true home, but the last few years at Adelaide Cottage brought “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.”
Translation: they want to get as far away from those cancer treatment memories as possible. Can you blame them?
Forest Lodge: The Royal Family’s “Forever Home”
Unlike their previous moves, Prince William and Kate Middleton are treating this relocation as their long-term solution. We’re talking about a $21 million property that they’re calling their “forever home”—presumably the place where they’ll stay even after William eventually becomes king.
The Grade II-listed Forest Lodge boasts eight bedrooms (double their current space), and it’s getting the full royal renovation treatment. But here’s the kicker: the couple is paying for everything themselves. No taxpayer money, no live-in staff. Just a regular royal family trying to make their new house a home.
The property is currently undergoing “minor renovations,” which in royal speak probably means they’re installing gold-plated everything and maybe a helipad or two.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis Get More Room
With Prince George now 12, Princess Charlotte at 10, and Prince Louis hitting 7, the kids are definitely outgrowing their current setup. Moving from a four-bedroom to an eight-bedroom house means everyone gets their space—and probably a few rooms left over for whatever royal kids do in their spare time. Polo practice room, anyone?
The family originally moved to Adelaide Cottage in 2022 to be closer to Lambrook School, where all three children attend. Forest Lodge keeps them in the same area, so no disruption to the kids’ education. Smart move, considering how much drama these kids have already weathered with their mom’s health scare.
Kate Middleton’s Cancer Battle Changed Everything
Let’s address the elephant in the room—Kate’s cancer diagnosis last year absolutely shook this family to its core. In March 2024, she announced that what started as routine abdominal surgery had revealed cancer. Months of chemotherapy followed, and while she announced her remission in January 2025, the recovery process has been anything but smooth.
“You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment,” Kate revealed in July. “Treatment’s done, then it’s like, ‘I can crack on, get back to normal,’ but actually, the phase afterwards is really, really difficult.”
That kind of life-altering experience changes your perspective on everything—including where you want to call home. If moving to a bigger, brighter space helps this family heal, then more power to them.
What This Move Really Means
This isn’t just about getting more square footage. The Royal Family is essentially drawing a line in the sand between their past struggles and their future happiness. Adelaide Cottage will forever be the place where Kate got her cancer diagnosis, where the family weathered one of their darkest storms.
Forest Lodge represents hope, recovery, and a return to some semblance of normalcy—whatever “normal” means when you’re destined to rule a country someday.
The fact that they’re calling it their “forever home” suggests they’re done with temporary solutions. This is where they want to raise their children, where they want to create new memories, and where they want to build their lives beyond the royal duties and public scrutiny.
Moving house might seem like a small thing, but for a family that’s been through hell and back, sometimes a fresh start is exactly what the doctor ordered.
