Cambridges to move to Windsor ‘to put George, Charlotte and Louis first’
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are to embark on the next major phase of their life by moving their family to Windsor, with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis all starting at the same new school.
William and Kate will set up home in Adelaide Cottage in Windsor's Home Park, and the children will join the co-educationalprivatelambrookschool near Ascot in Berkshire in September.
The duke and duchess are seeking a life away from the goldfish bowl of their official residence Kensington Palace in west London in a bid to put their children first and give them more freedom.
They had been known to have set their heart on outdoorsy prep school Lambrook, with its 52 acres of grounds, for their youngsters where fees will cost William and Kate in excess of £50,000 a year.
The family will use the pretty 19th century Adelaide Cottage as their base after the Queen gave them permission to lease the four-bedroom Grade II listedcottage,whichbelongstothe Crown Estate.
It was built for Queen Adelaide in 1831 and is nestled just a 10-minute walk from Windsor Castleintheprivatehomepark.
Kensington Palace said in a statement: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have today announced that Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will attend Lambrookschoolinberkshirefrom September 2022.
"Their Royal Highnesses are hugely grateful to Thomas's Battersea where George and Charlotte have had a happy start to their education since 2017 and 2019 respectively and are pleased to have found a school for all three of their children which shares a similar ethos and values to Thomas's." Kensington Palace confirmed the family will be moving to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor's Home Park before the school term begins.
A royal source said: "This is very much a decision that two parents have made to give their children the 'most normal' start possible. KP can be a little bit of a fishbowl.
"Theywantedtobeabletogive George, Charlotte and Louis a bit more freedom than they have living in central London.
"It's very much a decision that's been led by the kids."
William and Kate will retain Kensingtonpalace'sapartment 1A, which was refurbished with £4.5 million of taxpayers' money in 2013, as their official residence and their working base, which will continue to house their office staff.
But they will also keep their 10-bedroom Norfolk country mansion Anmer Hall, which was a gift from the Queen, has a swimming pool and tennis court and underwent largescale building work at their own cost.
The downsizing to Adelaide Cottage, which is not considered vast, means William and Kate's full-time nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo will live elsewhere for the first time, as will other staff including the housekeeper and the chef.
The source said the duke and duchess were very conscious of how their move stands in contrast to the cost-of-living crisis impacting the nation.