With news of Prince William and Kate Middleton‘s big move, some history of the house that they’re moving into has been unearthed. Forest Lodge was once considered to be the house of Princess Anne, but they eventually chose another residence to live in.
The Daily Telegraph revealed in 1975 that the residence was “strongly tipped” to be the first residence after her first marriage to Mark Phillips. However, Queen Elizabeth made the couple “steer away” from the option and moved them to their first marital home in Oak Grove House, a Georgian property on the grounds of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. The royal then presented Anne with Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire, which she has been living in ever since.
“The Wales family will move house later this year,” a spokesperson at Kensington Palace. “The family is set to move to the eight-bedroom Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park. “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,” a source told NBC News.
“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,” the source added.
Related: Kate Delivers Emotional Statement With William a Day After Their Serious Health Alert
The Wales family was motivated to move because of the hardships they endured in the past year, which included Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis. Prince William described it as “brutal” and “the hardest year in my life,” following cancer diagnoses for both his wife and father King Charles.
Middleton recently spoke about her cancer recovery with patients and staff members of the NHS. “You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment,” she explained while talking about the post-recovery stage. “Treatment’s done, then it’s like, ‘I can crack on, get back to normal,’ but actually, the phase afterwards is really, really difficult.”
“You’re not necessarily under the clinical team any longer, but you’re not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to,” she explained, adding that having support during this stage is crucial. “And actually, someone to help talk you through that, show you, and guide you through that sort of phase that comes after treatment, I think is really valuable.”
The house was built in the 1770s and was purchased by the Crown Estate in 1829. The house underwent a £1.5 million restoration in 2001.
Prince William and Kate Middleton are reportedly paying the market rental rate for the property, and they are also paying for the renovations, currently underway, themselves in addition, alleviating payments from taxpayers. The couple is also said to still live in the house when William ascends to the throne.
However, the couple’s big move reportedly made two families move out of the estate. Per the Mail on Sunday, “The cottages, converted from Forest Lodge’s stables, are understood to have been rented out by the Crown Estate, and the tenants, are said to have been ‘surprised’ at being asked to leave. It is understood that no eviction notices were served and the tenants have moved to similar or better housing elsewhere in the 4,800-acre Great Park.”
One source told the Mail, “They were told to move out. I guess they were given somewhere else, but they were told they had to move. They were not expecting it. Those houses are very close to the lodge, so they’re not going to want any Tom, Dick or Harry living in those houses if there are going to be royals there.”
The couple will still maintain their residence at Anmer Hall, in Norfolk, and Apartment 1a at Kensington Palace.
About the Author
