Despite doubling the size of their home following their move from four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage to eight-bedroom Forest Lodge, the Prince and Princess of Wales reportedly wanted to avoid relying on live-in staff to ensure their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, have a more modest, "normal" upbringing.
This decision has been called into question following the release of a new report by the National Audit Office, which detailed how much money the Crown Estate invested in renovating Prince William and Princess Kate's new family home.
In short, the royals have agreed to pay £307,200 a year for a "short-term 20-year lease" of the home, avoiding the controversy surrounding 'peppercorn rent' at other royal homes such as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's Royal Lodge. As well as the main Grade II-listed Georgian house, this covers a 7.4-acre paddock, a barn, and three stable cottages.
Several of these structures had to undergo upgrades before their move in 2025, paid for by the Crown Estate in line with its duties as landlord. The report revealed that the overall costs came to almost £400k, with the majority (£213,353) being spent on heating, plumbing and structural repairs for the main house and grounds.
However, two of the three cottages, which the report revealed were used for staff, also cost £48,575 and £90,626 respectively. The final cottage, however, was not vacated by the previous tenant until January 2026.
© Getty ImagesThe report also stated that William and Kate have a lease on Staff Lodge 1 on the Windsor estate, which has an annual rent of £19,800 and is occupied by a staff member.
© Getty ImagesSo is this an indication that William and Kate have changed their mind about live-in staff?
Former stance
© GettyAfter their move was announced in 2025, Ingrid Seward, royal biographer and editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, discussed why they would stand firm on their decision to maintain a private family home without staff on site 24 hours a day.
"William and Kate have never wanted live-in staff; I think that’s the modern way," Ingrid told HELLO!'s Royal and Features Contributor, Tracy Schaverien. "Since William was a little boy, he’s seen all the staff at the late Queen’s homes, and he never wanted that. It’s not something Kate grew up with either."
© Getty ImagesOf course, this did not mean that they could not continue to seek help from a housekeeper or nanny during the daytimes, as they had done in the past at Apartment 1A in Kensington Palace.
"They had a housekeeper and a nanny at Kensington Palace, but at Windsor, they have all these little cottages around the big house, which is nicer for the staff, too," explained Ingrid.
They are not the only royals to have a helping hand with their busy daily life. Of the Royal Household's 255 residential properties, 145 are used by staff, who pay 16.7 per cent of their gross pensionable salary towards accommodation costs.
