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Royal changes all around.
Prince William and Kate Middleton, both 43, have officially moved into their new Forest Lodge home in Windsor with their three children, according to The Telegraph.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, as well as Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, made the move during the school half-term holiday, per the outlet.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson first announced the royal family’s relocation plans back in August. “The Wales family will move house later this year,” they told Page Six in a statement at the time.
Forest Lodge, a Georgian mansion located in Windsor Great Park, boasted a reported $21 million price tag.
It’s an eight-bedroom property that sits just a stone’s throw away from the Wales family’s former four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage home, and the property is said to be much closer to Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, who often help to take care of George, Charlotte and Louis.
While the royal family moved into their former property in Berkshire in 2022 to be close to their kids’ school, insiders said the pair were looking for a “fresh start” somewhere new.
“Windsor has become their home,” a source told the Sun earlier this month. “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,” the insider added.
William and Kate had just moved into Adelaide Cottage when Queen Elizabeth passed away in September 2022.
Then, last year, the royal family’s challenging times continued when both King Charles, 76, and Princess Kate revealed that they had been diagnosed with cancer.
But unlike Adelaide Cottage, the royal couple were said to see their switch to Forest Lodge with George, Charlotte and Louis as a “long-term” move.
Other sources, however, questioned William and Kate’s decision to make Forest Lodge their new permanent residence – especially as he prepares to take over as monarch.
“How can this be their forever home?” one royal insider reportedly asked. “It is not grand enough for a king.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales implemented new security measures around Forest Lodge as well, per The Times.
A 2.3-mile perimeter was said to be enforced around the home, while locals lost access to the Cranbourne Gate entrance and parking lot of Windsor Great Park, which they pay roughly $150 every year to use, the outlet reported.
“Many of us have been walking our dogs here for 20 years, so to be told we can’t anymore is a kick in the teeth,” one neighbor complained to The Sun in September. “We pay annually towards the upkeep of a park, but we are no longer going to be allowed to use part of it.”
Other neighbors welcomed the royal family with open arms.
“I’m really happy about it. They’re my favorite royals. I think they’re wonderful people and will make a great King and Queen,” one Windsor local shared in August. “I just hope they don’t mind living near us.”
Meanwhile, William and Kate’s move into Forest Lodge came as the former Prince Andrew was stripped of his royal titles and ordered to vacate his home at Royal Lodge.
“His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew,” Buckingham Palace announced in a statement on Oct. 30. “Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.”
“His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence,” the Palace continued. “Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation.”
Andrew was said to have asked for two homes in return for leaving Royal Lodge: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s former Frogmore Cottage, and William and Kate’s now-vacant Adelaide Cottage.
He reportedly requested Frogmore Cottage for himself and Adelaide Cottage for his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.
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