What you need to know
Duchess Kate is likely to bring her artistic knowledge and decorating experience to bear in her and Prince William’s new family home.
The couple and their children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – moved into their “forever” home at Windsor’s Forest Lodge last month and are settling in amid a royal engagement and children returning to school in the autumn half term.
The move took place ahead of schedule. The original plan was for the family to move from nearby Adelaide Cottage to their new home before Christmas, but the builder moved up the schedule so the family could move in while the children were out of school.
But the Duchess, who has helped decorate her and Prince William’s past royal residences (prior to Adelaide they lived in Nottingham Cottage, Anmer Hall and Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace), has likely been planning her new space for months.
As an example, the eight-bedroom Forest Lodge is much larger than Adelaide Cottage, giving the princess more space to show off her “modern classics”, a recent feature in the Mail Online noted.
English Heritage/Heritage Images/Getty
Duchess Kate visited Marina Mills in September during a series of royal meetings with local artisans. The family-run company, based in Cuxton, has previously supplied hand-printed furniture to Buckingham Palace and Clarence House, so it would be no surprise if the royal family picked up samples during their stay.
MailOnline also reports that Forest Lodge will be equipped with a huge antique dining room table that will seat 24 people. The family plans to continue living in the house even after Prince William becomes king, so the house will likely be used for many dinners with the extended families on both sides for many years to come.
Duchess Kate’s eye for interior design has been honed over the years in various royal residences, perhaps thanks in large part to her degree in art history from the University of St. Andrews. Her decorating skills impressed Prince Harry so much that he wrote about them in his 2023 memoir, Spare.
Prince Harry said it was “amazing” when Duchess Kate renovated her Kensington Palace apartment. Prince William and Duchess Kate famously welcomed Barack and Michelle Obama to the space in 2016, where they posed for a cute photo with then-toddler Prince George.
Harry said of the space: “Wallpaper, ceiling trim, lots of walnut bookshelves in dark colors, priceless artwork. It’s amazing. It’s like a museum.”
Pete Souza/White House, via Getty
At the time, Prince Harry and his bride-to-be, Duchess Meghan, were living in a cottage in Nottingham. Harry admitted he was a little overwhelmed by Kate’s extravagant decorations.
“While we were embarrassed by the IKEA lamps and the used sofa we recently bought at the Sofa.com sale with Meg’s credit card, we celebrated the renovation without holding back from flattery,” he wrote.
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to stay up to date on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, and more!
After Prince William and Duchess Kate moved in, the couple expressed their gratitude to everyone who helped them settle into their new home ahead of schedule.
On November 2nd, the Daily Mail reported that the Prince and Princess of Wales held a private party at a local private pub, the York Club, and provided food and drinks to show their gratitude to all the staff and crew who helped with the quick transition.
“The couple just wanted to express their gratitude to everyone who has worked tirelessly to help,” a source told the outlet.
