The move to Windsor quietly reshaped daily life for the Wales family, but nothing captured the emotional weight of that transition quite like their very first Christmas at Adelaide Cottage. Away from palace corridors and long-standing royal formality, the family embraced a slower, warmer celebration—one defined by togetherness rather than tradition. At the center of it all was Princess Charlotte. Still young, yet noticeably thoughtful, Charlotte helped usher in what aides later described as a “deeply personal” Christmas morning. There were no grand halls or glittering banquets—just a modest tree, handwritten decorations, and laughter echoing through a home finally meant just for them. For the children, it was a chance to experience Christmas as many families do: waking early, exchanging simple gifts, and sharing quiet moments that don’t make headlines. For their parents, it marked a deliberate step toward normalcy. And for royal watchers, it revealed something rare—an intimate glimpse into a family choosing closeness over ceremony. That first Christmas at Adelaide Cottage didn’t rewrite royal history. Instead, it reminded everyone that even within the monarchy, the most meaningful traditions often begin quietly, at home. 
The Prince and Princess of Wales are ready for a new beginning. Following a challenging 18 months in the wake of Princess Kate’s cancer treatment, the Royal Family has officially moved into their new home, a Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed.
Prince William and his family were living in the four bedroom Adelaide Cottage since fall of 2022, when they relocated from Kensington Palace. The Wales family reportedly moved to an unstaffed country home during school terms to give their three children, George (12), Charlotte (10), and Louis (7), a more conventional home life, according to CNN. Their new home, Forest Lodge, is located only a short distance away from Adelaide cottage in Windsor Great Park. The family moved during the children’s half-term break from Lambrook School, allowing all three children to remain enrolled at their school and continue to enjoy the private family life they’ve grown accustomed to outside of London.
The move was completed earlier than originally planned—the family was initially expected to relocate around Christmas 2025, but moved in by early November instead. Prince William and Kate even threw a celebration party on October 31 at The York, a pub near Forest Lodge, to thank the builders and staff who worked to make their early move-in possible.
The eight bedroom Georgian-style Forest Lodge property (originally named “Holly Grove”) was built in the 1770s, and came into the possession of the Crown Estate in 1829, per Town & Country. It went on the market following a £1.5 million renovation in 2001—which brought about our most recent peeks at the ornate cornices and plasterwork, original stonework, and one half-barrel vaulted ceiling inside. Earlier in 2025, permissions were granted by the Royal Borough of Windsor for “minor internal and external alterations” (including a window removal and fireplace adaptations), per the BBC.
While ELLE Decor previously reported on the interior features that made the ‘modest’ Adelaide Cottage worthy of its Royal inhabitants (see historic “gilded dolphins and rope ornament” in the primary bedroom, a Greco-Egyptian marble fireplace, and more), the much larger Forest Lodge offers more opportunity for elaborate furnishings and storied decor. Given past privacy issues, we’re not counting on any insider looks at the estate now that the Waleses have settled in. But to fuel our design fantasies, we do know that it includes a ballroom, a tennis court, six chimneys, and eight bay windows. The property is estimated to be worth up to £16 million ($21 million) if it were on the open market, according to The Independent.