The party Princess! Kate Middleton and Prince William ‘throw party’ to thank builders who worked tirelessly on their ‘forever home’ at Forest Lodge as they move in

Another reason for the expedited move? Perhaps Prince William’s desire to leave Adelaide Cottage as soon as possible, with one insider noting that the future king sees his former home as ‘cursed’ following a run of unfortunate events that happened to the royal family during the Waleses’ time there.

William, Kate, and the children moved into the Cottage in August 2022, leaving behind their London abode in Kensington Palace to give the young royals as protected a childhood as possible and to be close to their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. Tragically, the late monarch died months after the move, and early the next year, Prince Harry released his memoir, Spare, which caused plenty of media turmoil for the family.

Last year, both Kate Middleton and King Charles were diagnosed with cancer, and while the Princess of Wales announced in January 2025 that she was in remission, her course of preventative chemotherapy saw her step back from the public eye. Prince William described the year as a ‘brutal’ one, and sources told the BBC that he is looking for a ‘fresh start’ in his new family home.

‘Every part of Adelaide Cottage, sadly, had an unpleasant memory associated with it,’ an insider told the Daily Mail. ‘It’s a lovely house and they started with such high hopes, but in the end they have experienced some of their most challenging times there as a family… Little wonder that William feels like it was cursed.’

Forest Lodge, which was designed by Thomas Sandby before it was acquired by the Crown in 1892, is certainly an upgrade from the family’s four-bedroom home at Adelaide Cottage. Across three stories, the Georgian pile boast marble fireplaces, plaster cornices, and a half-barrel-vaulted ceiling. Both the Prince and Princess of Wales will find something to love about the lodge: for football fan Prince William, there is a clear view of the Wembley Arches, while Wimbledon Patron (and keen tennis player) Catherine can practice her serves on the house’s private court. Forest Lodge underwent £1.5 million worth of refurbishments in 2001, and the local council have approved plans for additional interior and exterior renovations ahead of the royal move.

It seems that privacy is top of the family’s list of priorities when it comes to their relocation. One local explained to The Daily Mail that the Waleses’ new home is perfectly suited to avoid prying eyes as the royal children grow up. ‘The lodge is on a private road, close to a little village with a shop, a post office and a tea shop, which is mainly used by staff,’ they explained. ‘It’s about as isolated as you can get there, so you can see the attraction for them. It’s situated in a huge private chunk of Windsor Great Park, and the children can go out cycling for miles and not come anywhere near any of the local residents.’