Prince William and Kate’s secret party before escaping the ‘cursed’ house.
By Chukwudi Onyewuchi | Published: 2025-11-03 15:30:00 | Source: The Blast
The couple hosted a special farewell gathering for the builders and staff who worked tirelessly to prepare their new abode ahead of schedule.
The move marks the end of an emotional chapter at Adelaide Cottage, the Windsor home where the family faced a series of difficult events that left lasting scars, from grief and illness to royal turmoil.
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Prince William hosts secret ‘thank you’ party ahead of move
Prince William and Princess Kate organized a secret ‘thank you’ celebration at The York Club, a members-only bar near their new home in Windsor Great Park.
The Prince and Princess of Wales personally served drinks and snacks to the builders and staff who “worked tirelessly” to complete Forest Lodge before Bonfire Night.
A local source told… Daily Mail“The couple very kindly wanted to say thank you to everyone who worked tirelessly to help.”
The gathering marked the end of a busy few weeks for the Wells family, who spent the half-term break putting the finishing touches to their move.
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Their new eight-bedroom Georgian mansion is now surrounded by a 150-acre Home Office-approved security cordon, ensuring privacy for their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, as they adjust before returning to school.
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Prince William’s family says goodbye to Adelaide Country House
The farewell comes as the family officially leaves Adelaide Cottage, the four-bedroom home they moved into in August 2022.
At the time, William and his wife were hoping for a new country start for their children away from the lights of Kensington Palace.
But sources revealed that he now refers to his time there as “cursed.”
Although the property itself was charming, it became a painful reminder of difficult experiences.
“Sadly, every part of Adelaide Cottage had an unpleasant memory associated with it,” an insider explained.
What started as an exciting new chapter quickly turned grim, as Queen Elizabeth died just weeks after the family moved, the first of many major challenges that followed.
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Prince William’s “cursed” home and the family’s difficult years
Following the Queen’s death, the couple faced global media scrutiny when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle released their own docuseries on Netflix in December 2022, followed by Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare” the following year.
Things got even tougher when both Kate and King Charles were diagnosed with cancer in 2023. Prince William described the experience as “brutal”, and while Kate is now in remission following preventative chemotherapy, friends say the ordeal has been deeply “scarring”.
These interwoven hardships made the house heavy with sadness.
An insider said: “It’s a lovely house and they started with high hopes, but in the end they had some of the most difficult times there as a family.”
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Prince William and Kate Middleton find their ‘forever home’.
Determined to move on, William and Kate settled in at Forest Lodge, which insiders describe as their “forever home”.
The pair decided earlier this year to leave Adelaide Cottage sooner than planned to give their children a “fresh start”.
Construction workers worked around the clock to prepare the property months ahead of schedule.
Unlike previous royal generations, the Welsh chose to finance the relocation and renovation privately, paying market rent to the Crown Estate.
Kensington Palace has confirmed that it intends to remain at Forest Lodge even after William becomes king, indicating a clear desire to settle down.
The new residence provides the privacy and space their growing family needs, a welcome change after years of turmoil and public scrutiny.
Prince William balances family life with global commitments
Even as the family adjusts to their new surroundings, William continues to perform his royal duties.
The 43-year-old is expected to arrive in Rio de Janeiro for three days of engagements ahead of the Earthshot Awards.
This global initiative, which awards five prizes worth £1 million ($1.3 million) each year, promotes innovative environmental solutions, one of William’s greatest passions.
Later in the week, he will travel to Belem, Brazil, to represent King Charles at the COP30 climate summit.
While his schedule remains demanding, sources say the family’s move reflects a renewed focus on well-being and emotional balance.
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Although Forest Lodge brings them closer to the former Prince Andrew Royal Lodge, about 1.4 miles away, the new home symbolizes a peaceful beginning for the family, determined to look forward, and leave their cursed memories firmly in the past.
(tags for translation) Kate Middleton
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