The move marks a fresh start for the royal couple and their three children after a challenging few years

Prince William and Kate Middleton; Forest Lodge.Credit : Ian Vogler – WPA Pool/Getty; English Heritage/Heritage Images/Getty

Kate Middleton and Prince William have officially moved into their forever home.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, both 43, have moved to Forest Lodge in Windsor with their three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — according to The Telegraph. The outlet reports that the family moved during the school half-term and are now settling in.

The relocation plans were first announced in August, with a Kensington Palace spokesperson confirming to PEOPLE, “The Wales family will move house later this year.”

When Prince William and Princess Kate moved their home base from Kensington Palace in London to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor three years ago, they wanted to test the new location to see if it worked for their family. Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, started attending the nearby Lambrook School, and the location allows the Prince and Princess of Wales to balance parenting with their royal duties.

Speaking at the Irish Guards’ St. Patrick’s Day parade in March, Princess Kate told soldiers, “We are in Windsor at the moment. We were in London but moved there for more green space. It’s close enough to London, not too far away.”

Prince William and Kate Middleton with their children at Trooping the Colour in June 2025.Samir Hussein/WireImage

The move to Windsor put the family closer to Princess Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael, who are hands-on grandparents to George, Charlotte and Louis.

Their new home of Forest Lodge provides an opportunity for a fresh start after a difficult few years. Shortly after their move to Adelaide Cottage, they mourned Queen Elizabeth’s death in September 2022. King Charles immediately acceded to the throne, making Prince William the new heir.

They faced more hardship in 2024 when both Princess Kate and the King were diagnosed with cancer. While King Charles continues to receive treatment, the Princess of Wales announced that she was in remission in January.

Forest Lodge and the surrounding area, photographed in 2018.English Heritage/Heritage Images/Getty

Forest Lodge is said to be the family’s forever home, where they plan to stay even when William accedes to the throne.

Although it’s located only four miles from Adelaide Cottage, it’s considerably bigger — eight bedrooms compared to Adelaide’s four.

Despite this, Prince William and Princess Kate will continue not to have any live-in staff after their move to Forest Lodge, PEOPLE understands. The children’s longtime nanny, Maria Turrion Borrallo, and the housekeepers will likely stay on other smaller properties on the estate.

The outside of Forest Lodge during renovations in 2001.John Stillwell – PA Images/PA Images via Getty

Originally built in the 1770s, Forest Lodge is a Georgian-era mansion that was purchased by the Crown Estate in 1829, and the Deputy Ranger of Windsor Great Park lived in the residence until the 1930s. There were rumors in the 1970s that Princess Anne and her then-husband, Mark Phillips, might occupy the property, though they never moved in.

Prince William and Princess Kate’s move to Forest Lodge meant changes in security measures around the home. The Times reported that a 2.3-mile perimeter was enacted around the home, and locals no longer have access to the area. Neighbors lost access to the Cranbourne Gate entrance and parking lot of Windsor Great Park, which they pay around $150 per year to use, according to the outlet.

A local told The Sun: “Many of us have been walking our dogs here for 20 years, so to be told we can’t any more is a kick in the teeth. We pay annually towards the upkeep of a park, but we are no longer going to be allowed to use part of it.”

The inside of Forest Lodge during renovations in 2001.John Stillwell – PA Images/PA Images via Getty

Another local, Tom Bunn, told The Sun that he would regularly park at Cranbourne Gate to take his 9-year-old dog, Mr. Brown, for walks. However, he said he understood the change.

“Obviously, it’s disappointing as my dog loves it here. We come here every couple of weeks, and we’re going to have to find somewhere else now for him to get the miles in,” he told the outlet. “But I completely understand that the safety of William, Kate and their family is paramount, so we should make sure they can live happily here.”