The renovations at Forest Lodge were completed last month
The Princess of Wales has unveiled the autumn instalment of her Mother Nature video series, which was distributed on Saturday through Kensington Palace’s social media platforms.
The third episode in the quarterly programme features youngsters from Farley Junior Academy in Luton participating in outdoor culinary activities within Windsor Great Park.
The children, who receive support from the charity Go Beyond, joined chef Gill Mellor and the Princess for cooking demonstrations in the natural environment. The participants gathered around a campfire to share meals and exchange stories as part of the filmed activities.
The series continues to highlight Britain’s seasonal landscapes and natural environments, with each episode exploring different aspects of the country’s outdoor spaces throughout the year.
Princess Kate has released the third video in her Mother Nature series
| GETTY
The video, created by filmmaker Will Warr, was accompanied by a social media message signed “C” that described autumn as “a season of reflection, growth and deeper connection”.
The Princess provided narration throughout the film, speaking about seasonal transitions and personal growth.
“As the days grow shorter and the shadows grow longer, the energy of summer withdraws into Autumn. This is a season for reflection and refinement,” Kate narrated in the video.
She continued: “Trees shed their canopies in preparation for winter, just as we too learn to let go of what is no longer needed.”
The production included footage from various UK locations, such as Long Meadow Cider and Mallon Farm in Northern Ireland, which the royal couple had visited in October.
The Wales family relocated to Forest Lodge in Windsor earlier this month during the school half-term break, marking their transition to what has been described as their permanent residence.
The move represents an upgrade from their previous Windsor accommodation, which they had occupied since 2022.
Danielle Stacey, HELLO!’s Online Royal Correspondent, explained the family’s attachment to the area: “The Prince and Princess of Wales clearly love living in Windsor, the children are settled at Lambrook School nearby, and they will still be close to Windsor Castle for royal functions and engagements.”
She noted that the larger property provides increased space for the family whilst offering an alternative to raising the children within palace walls.
Forest Lodge has a rich renovation history, having undergone extensive refurbishment in 2001 at a cost of £1.5million.
The work preserved numerous historical features, including original stonework, decorative plaster cornices, ornate ceiling details, marble fireplaces, Venetian windows and a distinctive half-barrel vaulted entrance hall ceiling.
Prince William and Princess Kate have made the move to Forest Lodge | GETTYThe Prince of Wales has taken personal financial responsibility for both the property purchase and subsequent modifications.
Planning permission was sought from local authorities in June 2025 for modest internal and external changes to the residence.
Reports indicate that William has funded all recent alterations from his own resources, demonstrating his commitment to establishing the property as the family’s long-term home in Windsor.
Get a First Look at Prince William and Princess Kate’s New Forever Home, Forest Lodge
Homey and regal
Inside Forest Lodge, Prince William and Kate Middleton’s New Home
The royals have officially moved.
By Julia CancillaPublished: Nov 03, 2025 11:32 AM EST
Pool//Getty Images
3 min read
The Prince and Princess of Wales are ready for a new beginning. Following a challenging 18 months in the wake of Princess Kate’s cancer treatment, the Royal Family has officially moved into their new home, a Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed.
Prince William and his family were living in the four bedroom Adelaide Cottage since fall of 2022, when they relocated from Kensington Palace. The Wales family reportedly moved to an unstaffed country home during school terms to give their three children, George (12), Charlotte (10), and Louis (7), a more conventional home life, according to CNN. Their new home, Forest Lodge, is located only a short distance away from Adelaide cottage in Windsor Great Park. The family moved during the children’s half-term break from Lambrook School, allowing all three children to remain enrolled at their school and continue to enjoy the private family life they’ve grown accustomed to outside of London.
The move was completed earlier than originally planned—the family was initially expected to relocate around Christmas 2025, but moved in by early November instead. Prince William and Kate even threw a celebration party on October 31 at The York, a pub near Forest Lodge, to thank the builders and staff who worked to make their early move-in possible.
The eight bedroom Georgian-style Forest Lodge property (originally named “Holly Grove”) was built in the 1770s, and came into the possession of the Crown Estate in 1829, per Town & Country. It went on the market following a £1.5 million renovation in 2001—which brought about our most recent peeks at the ornate cornices and plasterwork, original stonework, and one half-barrel vaulted ceiling inside. Earlier in 2025, permissions were granted by the Royal Borough of Windsor for “minor internal and external alterations” (including a window removal and fireplace adaptations), per the BBC.
While ELLE Decor previously reported on the interior features that made the ‘modest’ Adelaide Cottage worthy of its Royal inhabitants (see historic “gilded dolphins and rope ornament” in the primary bedroom, a Greco-Egyptian marble fireplace, and more), the much larger Forest Lodge offers more opportunity for elaborate furnishings and storied decor. Given past privacy issues, we’re not counting on any insider looks at the estate now that the Waleses have settled in. But to fuel our design fantasies, we do know that it includes a ballroom, a tennis court, six chimneys, and eight bay windows. The property is estimated to be worth up to £16 million ($21 million) if it were on the open market, according to The Independent.
Given the tumultuous nature of the last several years for the young Royal Family— including the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the coronation of King Charles III, and both Charles and Kate navigating cancer diagnoses in 2024—it makes perfect sense that they’re seeking a “forever home” to fill with new memories and mark their next chapter. A royal insider told the BBC that “this move provides them with a chance for a fresh beginning and a new chapter. It allows them to leave behind some of the more distressing memories.“ Sources told the BBC that the family plans to raise their children to adulthood at Forest Lodge, and that the estate’s already rich history will likely be marked by a new Royal milestone: It will be where William and Kate will eventually become (and potentially live as) King and Queen.
William’s decision to maintain Forest Lodge as his residence even after becoming King marks a departure from centuries of monarchs living at Buckingham Palace. The Palace, which is currently undergoing a decade-long £369 million renovation, is expected to serve more as the monarchy’s headquarters rather than a family home, similar to how Queen Elizabeth II viewed it as her “office” while considering Windsor her true home.
This shift comes as King Charles himself is unlikely to ever use Buckingham Palace as his primary residence, instead remaining at Clarence House even after the Palace renovations are completed in 2027. The extensive renovation means Buckingham Palace will not host state visits until 2027, with Windsor Castle taking over ceremonial duties for the next three years.
The family is paying market rent on the property rather than using public funds. Despite the larger eight-bedroom estate, Prince William and Kate will continue not to have any live-in staff at Forest Lodge, maintaining the more conventional family lifestyle they’ve cultivated at Adelaide Cottage.
