William and Kate’s Beloved Windsor Home Hit With ‘Yellow Warning' Forcing Closure
Windsor Great Park, where both Adelaide Cottage and Forest Lodge are located, issued a weather warning urging visitors to stay safe.
Prince William and Kate Middleton are reportedly looking forward to moving from Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge next month. While their new 'forever home' offers more space for their three children, the Waleses can't seem to escape nature's challenges. On October 23, Windsor Great Park, where both Adelaide Cottage and Forest Lodge are located, issued a weather warning urging visitors to stay safe. Parts of the Park were forced to close due to heavy winds and rain, following a yellow weather alert issued by the Met Office.
A notice on the Windsor Great Park’s website read: "With a yellow weather warning issued by the Met Office, and following our severe weather plan, we have taken the decision to close a number of areas of Windsor Great Park and its facilities on Thursday, 23 October 2025." Some of the areas impacted were the Virginia Water South, Ranger's Gate, the Adventure Play, the Savill Garden, and the south side of Virginia Water Lake. Immediate closures were implemented to ensure visitor safety amid forecasts of gusts up to 75mph and strong rain, which led to flooding concerns and travel problems across southern and eastern England.
Shortly after the announcement, the Met Office confirmed that Storm Benjamin, the system responsible for the harsh weather, was moving away from the UK. According to HELLO!, Deputy Chief Meteorologist Chris Bulmer said, "As Storm Benjamin clears the UK and heads towards Denmark late tomorrow, cold Arctic air will sweep across the country, bringing a noticeably chilly weekend as temperatures fall below average." He added, "Storm Benjamin, a deep area of low pressure named by Meteo France, is now tracking away from the UK and its impacts are gradually diminishing."
Storm Benjamin isn’t the only time in the recent past when William and Middleton had to brave the weather. In August, the UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office issued an amber heat health alert across southern England due to an unprecedented heatwave. Given Adelaide Cottage's countryside location, the royal couple's home was particularly at risk, with concerns about overheating and heat strokes. Steve Cole, Director of Policy at The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), told HELLO! at the time, "These fires are a stark reminder that the UK is not immune to the dangers of extreme heat. With temperatures soaring and vegetation drying out, the risk of wildfires increases dramatically, even in urban and coastal areas."
Like William and Middleton, even King Charles has had to deal with scary weather challenges affecting his cherished private residences. On August 4, Balmoral Castle shared a notice on the monarch's behalf via Instagram, which read, "Balmoral will be closed to the public today, Monday 4 August, due to Storm Floris. Please do not travel to the Estate. We will be issuing refunds for tickets to visit today. Stay safe, everyone." The King's warning came after Storm Floris wreaked havoc across Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland, and Wales.
