The Prince and Princess of Wales have moved into their ‘forever home’ – making them close neighbours with the disgraced Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
It has been confirmed that William and Catherine have vacated Adelaide Cottage in Windsor’s Home Park to set up residence in the Grade II-listed Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park.
Rebecca English, the Daily Mail’s royal editor, previously revealed that the Wales family were aiming to move into their new eight-bedroom Georgian mansion during half-term in time for Bonfire Night.
William and Catherine, both 43, have been keen to provide a ‘fresh start’ for their three children: Prince George, 12, who will start senior school next autumn, Princess Charlotte, ten, and seven-year-old Prince Louis.
Although the family had planned to live in cosy four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage for years, their time there has been beset by unhappy memories including the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Harry and Meghan’s vitriolic Netflix series and both Charles and Catherine’s cancer diagnoses.
‘Adelaide Cottage really does have some difficult memories associated with it, sadly,’ a source said.
‘They have experienced some of their most challenging times there… The family are really happy about this [move] and excited for a fresh start.’
However, it does mean the Wales family are temporarily closer to William’s disgraced uncle Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson who still live in Royal Lodge – albeit about 1.4 miles away as the crow flies.
William and Catherine, both 43, have been keen to provide a ‘fresh start’ for their three children: Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, ten, and seven-year-old Prince Louis
The family have officially moved into Forest Lodge (pictured) where they are temporarily closer to Andrew
The couple quit Adelaide Cottage (pictured) to be in the eight-bedroom Georgian mansion by Bonfire Night
Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday that Andrew would be stripped of his prince and Duke of York titles amid the long-running Epstein scandal.
It was also confirmed that he would quit Royal Lodge for a new private home on Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were said to have fully supported the King’s leadership on the matter.
Indeed, William is always understood to have wanted to take decisive action over his uncle.
In an exclusive story, the Daily Mail revealed that the Prince of Wales and his wife made it clear that a clean break from Andrew was the only way the Royal Family could move forward.
But Andrew and Fergie won’t be packing boxes until the the New Year, meaning they will temporarily be close neighbours with the Wales family.
Andrew was accused by the late Virginia Giuffre of sexually assaulting her as a teenager, after she was trafficked by paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, which the former prince denies.
Buckingham Palace had to walk a legal and constitutional tightrope to ensure moves to completely strip Andrew of his birthright, titles and home did not backfire.
Both Andrew (right) and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson (left) have been wrapped up in the long-running Epstein scandal
The former duke now known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor will remain in Royal Lodge (pictured) until the new year before moving to Sandringham
Buckingham Palace’s statement announcing that King Charles stripped Andrew of his titles and home on October 30
William, a long-term mental-health campaigner, is understood to have been particularly worried about his uncle’s wellbeing.
Concerns were also raised privately by other family members including Andrew’s siblings, Prince Edward and Princess Anne.
However, the King and his wife, Queen Camilla, who has long campaigned for those affected by domestic and sexual violence, were also determined to publicly show their support for victims and survivors of ‘any and all forms of abuse’.
William and his family have moved to Forest Lodge as the Prince of Wales prepares to make a solo trip to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil for his annual Earthshot Prize Awards.
Ahead of the Wales Family’s relocation, an 150-acre, Home Office-agreed security cordon was put in place around the eight-bedroom Georgian mansion in September.
Residents had expressed frustration at the permanent closure of nearby Cranbourne Gate and Cranbourne car park.
Those who lived within half a mile had previously been able to apply to hold keys to the gate for a £110-a-year fee.
The Sandringham estate (pictured, file photo of Sandringham House, the primary residence on the estate), where Andrew is set to move, is the monarch’s private property, meaning that Charles can support and fund his brother, where necessary, personally
Additional fencing was introduced on parts of the 2.3 mile perimeter around the 150-acre no-go zone.
It is a criminal offence to trespass on a protected site designated under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) 2005.
The Wales family also have a 10-bedroom mansion, Anmer Hall, on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, and Apartment 1A in Kensington Palace in London.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.celebrity.land.co.uk ’
