William and Kate have reportedly secured a significant rental agreement for their permanent residence in Windsor. Official documents confirm that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are now the leaseholders of the historic Forest Lodge mansion, having signed a 20-year lease last July. The new rental fee represents a substantial increase compared to the previous tenants.
Although the lease was finalized last year, the specific value was not publicly disclosed until recent Land Registry filings revealed the couple’s ownership of the lodge in Windsor Great Park. The lease encompasses not only the lodge but also two cottages on the property that were used for staff housing.
Previously rented for £216,000 annually to Alexander Fitzgibbons, the chairman of an event company, the property is now the cherished “forever home” of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Prince William’s rent is covered by his private income from the Duchy of Cornwall.
Forest Lodge, a property returned to the Crown Estate by Queen Elizabeth II in the 1990s, has been available for lease on the market. Despite this new residence, William and Kate continue to maintain homes at Kensington Palace and Anmer Hall in Norfolk, a wedding gift from Queen Elizabeth.
The disclosure of this rental agreement coincides with increased scrutiny of property arrangements and leasing practices by the Crown Estate. The Crown Estate’s CEO, Dan Labbad, confirmed that negotiations for the lease were conducted at arm’s length to ensure fair market terms. This transparency in royal finances comes amidst ongoing debates about Crown Estate property deals involving senior members of the Royal Family.