There’s been quite a fuss about Kate Middleton and Prince William’s decision to move from Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge later this year. From displacing their neighbors to leaving behind the Buckingham Palace legacy, it’s clear that the Prince and Princess of Wales are making distinct life decisions.
It’s what The Times is describing as a “downsizing” of their royal life. Even though Forest Lodge has four more bedrooms than their current cozy quarters at Adelaide Cottage, Kate and William are going to stick with their apartment at Kensington Palace, their country home, Anmer Hall, and Forest Lodge — they are shunning the excesses previously associated with the royal family. Forest Lodge in, Buckingham Palace out!
According to the U.K. outlet, this decision is being “driven by Kate” because she’s “entered a new phase of her life, post-cancer treatment.” They noted, “…She’s no longer prepared to fake the role of Princess, and this house move is part of a bigger shift towards ‘normality’ away from the stuffy world her husband’s mother inhabited.”
The move is also coming with a refreshing detail about how Kate and William are handling the financial aspects of their move. On August 15, The Sun reported that the royal couple is covering the costs of their relocation personally, as well as any renovations to Frogmore Cottage. The lesson was learned after the firestorm of headlines surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle when their $3.1 million tab on Frogmore Cottage was picked up by taxpayers. (The Sussexes paid the taxpayers back in 2020.)
Kate has made it very clear that family comes first, and giving Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, as normal a life as possible is her priority. Last year’s cancer battle likely put that mission into sharper focus. Kate is not going to be forced into anything — her life has changed forever.
“Windsor has become their home,” a palace insider told The Sun. “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. This is a move for the long-term. They see it as their forever home.”
