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Kate and William Prioritize Family and Nature with Move to Windsor's Forest Lodge

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  //house-home.news-articles.net/content/2026/01/0 .. -nature-with-move-to-windsor-s-forest-lodge.html
  Published in House and Home on Wednesday, January 7th 2026 at 2:34 GMT by HELLO! Magazine

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Princess Kate's New Year, New Focus: Embracing Nature & Family at Windsor's Forest Lodge

Princess Kate and Prince William ushered in 2024 with a significant shift in their domestic life, relocating from Kensington Palace in London to Forest Lodge, a comparatively secluded property within the sprawling Windsor Great Park. This move, widely reported and detailed in Hello! magazine, signals a deliberate effort by the Prince and Princess of Wales to prioritize family life, embrace a more natural environment, and potentially reshape their public image. This article summarizes the details surrounding the move, its implications, and the broader context of the Royal Family's living arrangements.

The decision to leave Kensington Palace, which served as the primary residence for the couple and their three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis – for over a decade, wasn’t entirely unexpected. Kensington Palace, while historic and central to London, offered limited privacy, constantly under the gaze of the public and media. Forest Lodge, while still within the secure grounds of Windsor Castle, offers a substantially greater degree of seclusion. It's a four-bedroom cottage, described as "modest" in comparison to the Palace, and represents a downscaling of space, indicative of a shift in priorities.

Crucially, the move isn't a complete severance from London. Kensington Palace will remain the official working base for the Prince and Princess. They will continue to conduct meetings, host engagements, and manage their respective charitable portfolios from there. This ensures a continued commitment to their royal duties while allowing them to retreat to a more private family life when not engaged in official business. The Hello! article highlights the appeal of Windsor as a location providing both proximity to the King at Windsor Castle and access to open spaces, crucial for the increasingly outdoorsy pursuits of the family.

The impetus behind this change appears to be multi-faceted. The Prince and Princess are increasingly focused on providing their children with a ‘normal’ upbringing as much as possible, allowing them to explore nature and enjoy a less constrained childhood. Windsor Great Park provides ample opportunities for this; the children are already known to enjoy outdoor activities, and the park's expansive landscape offers freedom and privacy largely unavailable in central London. The article points to Princess Kate’s personal passion for the outdoors and gardening, evidenced by her co-design of the RHS Back to Nature Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2019 and 2020. This passion is now being more fully realized in their daily lives.

Further contextualizing the move is the fact that Prince William is increasingly taking on more responsibilities due to King Charles's health. The King, diagnosed with cancer in early 2024, is reducing his public appearances. This places a greater burden on William, and having a more stable and private family base at Windsor allows him to manage his increased workload while also supporting his father. The proximity to Windsor Castle means William can readily be present for his father when needed, a significant consideration given the King's current circumstances.

The historical precedent for this type of relocation is also noteworthy. The late Queen Elizabeth II spent a considerable amount of time at Windsor Castle in her later years, particularly during the autumn and winter months. This established a precedent for a more private and family-focused existence outside of the formal duties centered in London. The choice of Forest Lodge specifically echoes a similar decision made by Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex, who relocated to Bagshot Park within Windsor Great Park in 2007, prioritizing a family life away from the pressures of London.

However, the move isn’t without logistical implications. The children have now switched schools, moving from Thomas’s Battersea in London to a private school near Windsor, requiring a new routine and adjustments for the family. The details of their new schooling arrangements haven’t been widely publicized, reflecting the couple’s desire to maintain a degree of privacy for their children.

In conclusion, Princess Kate and Prince William's relocation to Forest Lodge is far more than just a change of address. It represents a conscious effort to recalibrate their lives, prioritizing family time, embracing a more natural environment, and adapting to the evolving demands of their roles within the Royal Family, particularly in light of the King's health. The move underscores a desire for a balance between fulfilling royal duties and providing a nurturing, private, and ‘normal’ upbringing for their children, setting the tone for a new chapter in their lives at Windsor. The Hello! article and linked sources portray this as a deliberate and thoughtful decision aimed at solidifying family bonds and providing a more sustainable rhythm for their future.