Ethical concerns have been raised following the news that the Prince and Princess of Wales are set to move from Adelaide Cottage to a new eight-bedroom Windsor Great Park property in the coming months.
For those out of the loop with the royal news, an insider told the BBC earlier today that final restorations are underway at Forest Lodge, and that the family are set to move in before Christmas.
Prince William, Kate Middleton and their three children - Princes George and Louis, and Princess Charlotte - have lived at their current home, Adelaide Cottage, since 2022. They moved into the four-bedroom property after relocating from Kensington Palace, in London.
The family have since set their sights on a sprawling new estate in Windsor, known as Forest Lodge.
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Where is it Forest Lodge?
Owned by the King as part of the Crown Estate, the 328-year-old property is situated in a quieter, less populated area of the 4,800-acre estate, and is understood to offer views over both Berkshire - a nature-heavy county which Kate previously described as her 'sanctuary' - and London.
Apparently, the couple are eager to make the eight-bedroom property - which is also a Grade II-listed house - their 'forever home', and plan to live there when William and Kate become King and Queen in the coming years.
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As such, as well as being unexpected in terms of timing, the move will also break long-standing royal tradition, marking the first occasion on whereby the monarch will not live in a palace or a castle.
In better news, however, the Wales' won't be moving far, with Forest Lodge being located just four miles from their current home.
How much is Forest Lodge worth?
According to The Independent, the colossal property is said to be worth as much as £16 million - and would be listed as such on the open market.
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Despite currently being under renovation, Forest Lodge was first listed in 1972.
It is a red-brick, 19th century home that boasts several period details, like Venetian windows and marble fireplaces, as well as a open corridor with a barrel-vaulted ceiling.
2001 marks the last time that property was renovated at a staggering £1.5m at the time. It was then rented out out for £15,000 a month.
Who is paying for it?
Due to the location of the cottage being inside Windsor Great Park, Forest Lodge and its renovations will reportedly be funded by the couple, and not the Sovereign Grant.
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For those unfamiliar with the latter, this payment is made by the UK Government to the royal family to provide state finding to the monarchy. As such, it pays King Charles III's official duties - such as travel, royal engagements, and his staff - as well as the upkeep of royal assets and the maintenance of official residences.
William and Kate are said to be forking out for both minor internal and external renovations, which include replacing doors and windows and stripping out internal walls. The property's ceilings will also be improved, and some floors replaced.
Why have they moved?
Speaking to press this week, the royal insider alluded to unhappy memories made during their time at Adelaide Cottage being the central reason behind the couple's move.
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"Windsor has become their home," the source explained. "However, over the last few years while they have lived at Adelaide Cottage there have been some really difficult times."
The insider continued: "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."
Whilst the source opted not to disclose exactly which 'difficult time' had spurred the move, it is believed that the remark may have referred the death of William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, as well as several other family illnesses.
In 2024, not only did his father, King Charles III reveal he'd been diagnosed with an undisclosed strain of cancer, but Kate herself broke the news that she'd been dealt a similar diagnosis.
The mother-of-three first confirmed her ailing health in March of last year, revealing she'd been diagnosed in January after undergoing abdominal surgery following several weeks away from the public eye.
Despite later confirming that the treatment had been successful and that her cancer was in remission, both she and William previously discussed the toll that her poor health had on the family.
As well as William describing 2024 as the 'hardest year of my life', Kate also said during an appearance at an Essex hospital earlier this year: "It’s not one smooth plane, which you expect it to be.
"But the reality is it’s not. You go through hard times."
On top of the unhappy memories the couple are keen to escape from, it is also believed that part of the decision to their move had been based upon testing out the education system in Berkshire, where George, Charlotte and Louis currently attend Lambroke School.
What are the accusations?
As we say, however, the Wales' move has also sparked ethical concerns, with William and Kate standing accused of 'forcing' surrounding Windsor neighbours out of their homes.
Another royal insider reportedly told the Daily Mail this weekend: "They were told to move out. I guess they were given somewhere else, but they were told they had to move."
They added of the neighbours: "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."
That said, however, such reports have not been officially confirmed by the Royal Family.
After contacting Kensington Palace, Tyla understands no eviction notices have been served.
Topics: Royal Family, UK News, Prince William, Kate Middleton
Rhianna Benson