Prince William and Kate Live at Forest Lodge: Security Zone Limits Park Visitors' Access

Prince William, heir to the British throne, and his wife Catherine (Kate) have lived with their children since autumn 2025 at Forest Lodge, a historic eight-bedroom house in Windsor Great Park in England. The move is not new, but security measures around the property have limited some visitors' access to favourite walking areas, sparking debate about the royal family's privacy and the public's right to use shared space.

A historic house in the park

Windsor Great Park covers roughly 4,800 acres. Forest Lodge was built in the 18th century and has eight bedrooms, a ballroom, an adjacent pond and a tennis court. The couple chose it as a long-term family home and plan to stay there even after William becomes king.

The property is about 3.5 miles, or a ten-minute drive, from Windsor Castle, where William and Kate regularly carry out royal duties. London remains within reach, allowing the family to combine a more private daily life with official engagements.

Security measures affect visitors

Before the family moved in, a security zone was set up around the house, CCTV cameras were installed and extra trees were planted to shield the home from prying eyes. These steps have also affected local residents and park visitors.

Some people can no longer use the Cranbourne Gate entrance and the car park next to it, which they had used for dog walks and time in nature. Some expressed disappointment, as they had used the routes for years, while others acknowledge that the royal family's security matters.

Previous residence

William and Kate moved to the Windsor area in summer 2022 from Kensington Palace in London, settling at Adelaide Cottage. Forest Lodge is close to their former home but larger. In 2022 the family experienced the death of Queen Elizabeth II, as well as cancer diagnoses for King Charles III and Kate.

Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told People in December 2025 that Adelaide Cottage had been associated with pain, suffering and sadness, so the wish to move was entirely understandable.