With the Global Biodiversity Framework, Prince William, the Prince of Wales, is making a courageous move. He has stated that he plans to move out of Buckingham Palace once crowned king. Instead, he intends to make his permanent residence at his own property, Forest Lodge, which lies within Windsor Great Park. This decision represents a stunning departure from royal precedent. Buckingham Palace has consistently been the main place of residence to those monarchs.
At present, Buckingham Palace welcomes the public through its gates only for a limited stretch in the summer. There are ongoing conversations about extending its operations year-round to better attract and serve visitors. Windsor Castle should take on a greater role in hosting state royal banquets and other affairs. This important semantic change is set to play out soon.
Hot on their heels, Prince William and Princess Kate will move into Forest Lodge later this year. This house, apparently already dubbed their ideal “forever home,” is only around 10 miles from their current home at Adelaide Cottage. They value privacy and a family-oriented, suburban lifestyle as they raise their three kids. Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis currently all attend Lambrook School in Berkshire.
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward told The Daily Beast that Prince William’s decision is part of his long-term plan to modernize the monarchy. She stated, “William was never going to move into Buckingham Palace.” Seward further elaborated on Prince William’s forward-thinking approach, noting, “He is quite visionary, and can see that the monarchy has to change in order to survive.”
It’s just the latest sign that the royal family is changing to embrace the times. You wouldn’t expect Prince William to be less committed to helping raise the future king than he is to his eventual role as king. Seward believes he will manage this by fostering greater self-sufficiency within the royal family, stating, “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.”
Since his ascension to the throne in 2022, King Charles III has kept Clarence House as his personal residence. That emotional history bordering on magic associating with Buckingham Palace goes deep. When both Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were kicked out of Clarence House to make way for the new King Charles, they were heartbroken.
With Prince George nearing his 13th birthday, it’s time to talk about how he’ll come of age in the kingdom. Eton College seems to be the front-runner for his secondary education. This change marks a dedication from the family to continue offering stability and continuity for their children even as roles change in the expanding royal family.
