The Prince of Wales won't live at Buckingham Palace when he becomes King, according to one royal biographer. Instead, Prince William, 43, plans to stay in his own home, just like his father, King Charles, has maintained Clarence House as his London residence since ascending the throne in 2022. The Prince and Princess of Wales are primed to move into their "forever home" Forest Lodge within Windsor Great Park later this year, a short drive from their current abode, Adelaide Cottage.
They also have Anmer Hall, their ten-bedroom home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, as well as an apartment in Kensington Palace for official entertaining.
"William was never going to move into Buckingham Palace," Ingrid Seward, royal biographer and Editor-in-Chief of Majesty Magazine, tells HELLO! in this week's edition.
"He has never had any fondness for it, and he probably hasn't spent much time there. The Queen and Prince Philip were devastated when they had to move out of Clarence House; Winston Churchill told them that the Queen had to live in a palace.
"But that was then, and this is now. Maybe Buckingham Palace will open to the public all year round, rather than only in the summer, and they will use Windsor Castle for banquets."
Hands-on parents
Royal insiders say that their new home's location will enable the Prince and Princess, who regularly do the school run, to remain "hands-on" parents. Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, ten, and Prince Louis, seven, currently attend nearby Lambrook School in Berkshire. After his 13th birthday next July, George is set to move schools, with Eton College tipped to be the frontrunner.
"I think William will be a hands-on father as well as a monarch, which is quite difficult, but I think he will manage it by changing the way that things are run, including being more self-sufficient and not being reliant on the taxpayer," Ingrid tells HELLO!.
"He is quite visionary, and can see that the monarchy has to change in order to survive."
Buckingham Palace is currently undergoing a ten-year refurbishment, costing £369m. The reservicing is due to be completed in 2027, with the King and Queen tipped to move in that year.
Reporting by Tracy Schaverien.
Pick up the latest issue of HELLO! on sale in the UK now. You can subscribe to HELLO! to get the magazine delivered free to your door every week or purchase the digital edition online via our Apple or Google apps.