Prince William Doesn’t Mind Breaking Royal Tradition to Give His Kids the Childhood ‘He Never Had’
Prince William has made it clear that when it comes to raising his children, royal traditions will take a back seat. His latest move with Kate Middleton, swapping Adelaide Cottage for the more permanent Forest Lodge in Windsor, is just the latest sign that the future king is determined to do things differently. Nestled in a private and calm corner of Windsor Great Park, the soon-to-be new residence is just four miles from William and Middleton's current home, Adelaide Cottage. Built in the 1770s, it is a Georgian mansion with eight bedrooms, and a massive upgrade for the couple.
As former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told GB News, “William is focused on creating a stable and private family life: the kind he never had when he was growing up. And so he wants to keep his family firmly rooted.” That instinct has shaped the way he approaches his role. He’s spoken before about wanting “royalty with a small r,” and Bond believes the move to Forest Lodge fits that vision perfectly. “He’s already defined the way he wants to do things,” she said. “I think a ‘forever’ home at Forest Lodge is in keeping with that philosophy.”
It also highlights his willingness to step away from expectations. For more than a thousand years, monarchs have lived in palaces and castles, with Buckingham Palace seen as the headquarters of the crown. But Bond doesn’t think William is concerned about breaking that cycle. “I don’t think William is going to bat an eyelid about breaking certain royal traditions,” she explained. “He doesn’t want to live in a palace or a castle, and he has made up his mind to do things differently.”
In practice, that means his children will grow up in a family home rather than a palace. “Living in a house, albeit a pretty big house as Forest Lodge is, will give his family a much more normal life, and that, I’m sure, is going to stand them in good stead,” Bond said. Kensington Palace confirmed last month that the Wales family will be moving later this year, though they avoided naming the exact property, reported BBC.
Sources told the outlets this is “for the long term” and that William and Middleton intend to stay even after he becomes king. That would mark a significant shift. Buckingham Palace has long been seen as the sovereigns’ home, but insiders say William is taking a more pragmatic approach. One explained that their earlier move from Kensington Palace to Adelaide Cottage in 2022 was “designed to test a new location and see if it worked for them as a family.” The feedback, it seems, was positive.
The decision is also rooted in everyday priorities, school runs, family dinners, and time away from the spotlight. “They want to continue to do the school run, even if they are King and Queen,” one insider said, reported Daily Mail. Another suggested the move offers a clean slate after “three really tough years,” referring to the loss of Queen Elizabeth II and Middleton’s health battle. “They are looking forward to creating many happy memories in their new home and leaving some of the unhappier ones behind.”