If you follow the royal family, you may have seen headlines recently about Prince William and Kate Middleton forcing two families to move. This is in preparation for a big life change on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ part.
After living at Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor Estate since 2022, William, Kate, and their three children are moving to Forest Lodge. And it sounds like they really intend to settle there. In fact, the plan is for William and Kate to continue living in Forest Lodge even when William becomes King.
But what about the two families forced to move from their homes? Were they evicted, and where are they living now? We have all the details below.
Why were two families forced to relocate ahead of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s move to Forest Lodge?
According to a report from the Daily Mail, the families were forced to relocate for security reasons. It seems their cottages were very close to Forest Lodge, an eight-bedroom property in Windsor Great Park. Both houses used to be Forest Lodge stables. Then they were converted to cottages which are now rented out by Crown Estates.
As the Daily Mail’s source put it, “Those houses are very close to the lodge, so they’re not going to want any Tom, Dick or Harry living in those houses if there are going to be royals there.” Especially since William and Kate are reportedly hoping Forest Lodge will be their “forever home.”
Were the families evicted?
Sources claim the families did not receive any official eviction notices. Instead, the families were asked to leave their residences earlier in the summer. Regardless, a source told the Daily Mail that the families “were not expecting it.” While it’s good there were no eviction notices, I still can’t imagine how shocking and difficult this situation was for those families.
Prince William and Kate Middleton aren’t moving to Forest Lodge (pictured above) until later this year. But the two families have already left their former residences. It sounds like there’s a lot of work to be done at Forest Lodge in preparation for William and Kate’s arrival. For instance, adding new shrubs and privacy screens. There are also some minor renovations to the eight bedroom house, which William is paying for.
Were the families given new housing?
You’ll be glad to hear that both families have been provided with new housing. According to People, the families moved to houses that are “similar or better” than their former residences. The new residences are in the same area as their cottages. Meaning both the families will still live within Great Park, an area which covers 4,800 acres. Also, their new houses are still Crown Estate properties.
Let’s hope the families are as happy as they can be with this solution. Regardless, I imagine the decision to force two families out of their homes may be a controversial move by the royal family.