Prince William's heartbreaking confession over son George as he prepares to move home
The Wales family will move into Forest Lodge later this yearPrince William once made a confession about his hope for his son, Prince George, and his future, which may explain his decision to move to a new family home.
The Prince and Princess of Wales will move from Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge, both located in Windsor, later this year with their three children.
Forest Lodge has been dubbed the family’s new “forever” home after a tough past few years at Adelaide Cottage. Months after their move from Kensington Palace to the cottage, Queen Elizabeth II died. Then, last year, Princess Kate was diagnosed with cancer and underwent treatment. She’s now in remission.
It seems that Forest Lodge will be a “fresh start” for the family. And, William has previously expressed that he didn’t want his kids “growing up behind palace walls”.
Prince William doesn’t want George ‘growing up behind palace walls’
George is second in line to the British throne, behind his father. His future as a king will mean he faces differences from his younger siblings.
Speaking to British GQ in 2017, Prince William, 43, said: “I want George to grow up in a real, living environment. I don’t want him growing up behind palace walls, he has to be out there.
“The media make it harder but I will fight for them to have a normal life.”
This has been a consistent theme in William and Kate’s family life. They have always strived to give George, 12, Charlotte, 10, and Louis, seven, as much of a “normal” upbringing as possible.
In the summer of 2022, the family moved from Kensington Palace to Adelaide Cottage located in Windsor Home Park. Reports claimed they made the move for more privacy.
William and Kate’s new ‘forever’ home in Windsor
Now, Kensington Palace announced that the family will move into Forest Lodge “later this year”.
The Georgian mansion in Windsor Great Park boasts eight bedrooms. Adelaide Cottage has four bedrooms.
It’s understood that they will not have any live-in staff as they focus on creating as private a family home as is possible.
I want George to grow up in a real, living environment.
One source told the BBC of the move: “Windsor has become their home. 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. It’s an opportunity to leave some of the more unhappy memories behind.”
William, Kate and their children’s ‘brutal’ year
The Prince and Princess of Wales, 43, and their children have faced a tough couple of years. In March 2024, Kate announced her cancer diagnosis to the world.
She took a step back from duties to undergo treatment. In September of last year, she revealed she had finished her treatment and was focusing on staying cancer-free.
Read more: Prince William warned ‘be careful what you wish for’ over new ‘forever’ home
Then, in January 2025, she announced she was in remission but would continue to focus on her health and gradually return to duties.
Reflecting on 2024, which also saw King Charles diagnosed with cancer, William said it had been “brutal”.
It seems Forest Lodge will be a fresh start for the family, and honours William’s wish for his children to have a somewhat normal upbringing despite their royal status.
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