Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Plan to Move to Windsor

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are reportedly planning to move into a new home in Windsor to be closer to the Queen and the Duchess's family.

The couple currently split their time between their London home, Kensington Palace, and their home, Amner Hall, in Norfolk.

However, they plan to relocate to Windsor as they consider it the perfect place to raise their three children.

Sources say they have their eyes on Fort Belvedere, a Grade II listed house with a tower towards the southern end of Windsor Great Park.

Originally built in 1721, the fort underwent major renovations in the 19th century and was used by Queen Victoria as a tea house.

Prince Edward and Wallis Simpson also spent time there before moving to France.

William and Catherine are also said to be looking at the Ludgrove Boarding School for Prince George, where William and Harry went due to its close proximity to Fort Belvedere.

But the Duchess is keen on sending her three children to the same school and has the co-educational Lambrook near Ascot as her favourite.

According to The Telegraph, the planned move has left those close to the couple aghast as many do not consider Berkshire the proper countryside.

A source told the paper, people can be very snooty about that area, west of London, but that mainly comes out of ignorance.

The couple are said to also believe they can make the commute from Windsor to west London in just 25 minutes.

The relocation, which would bring the Cambridges closer to both the Queen and Catherine's parents in Bucklebury, is the most significant sign yet that the couple are preparing to take on a far more senior role at the heart of the royal family.

The Duke and Duchess have increased their royal duty significantly in the past 12 months.

Meanwhile, the Queen is slowly handing over more of her work, while the absence of Prince Harry and Meghan and Prince Andrew has meant other senior royals are having to pick up the slack.

Moving the family west could prove strategic as well as practical as the monarchy prepares for major changes in the years ahead.

It means most of the Queen's immediate family, barring Prince Charles and Princess Anne, were close at hand to support her.

Following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh last year, it would also no doubt prove a boost to the Queen to have the Cambridges nearby.

The 95-year-old monarch has a close relationship with William.

Having the Cambridges nearby is ideal because Catherine's parents, Carol and Michael Middleton, live just 25 kilometres away from Windsor in Bucklebury.

This means they could help out with school runs and other activities.

Kate has long spoken kindly about the county she grew up in, with the family making regular trips back to see her parents.

The Duchess's parents, Michael and Carol Middleton, live in a seven-bedroom Grade II listed mansion, Bucklebury Manor.

Crucially, the couple is preparing to take on a far more senior role at the heart of the royal family, and the planned move is the most significant sign yet.

Additionally, the permanent base in Windsor could make sense for Prince William and Catherine, with a number of royals already living there on the Windsor estate.

The Queen has been living at Windsor Castle since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, while Prince Edward and Sophie live nearby at Bagshot Park.

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank have taken over Prince Harry and Meghan's former home, Frogmore Cottage, and Prince Andrew continues to live at the Royal Lodge.

Sources stress that any changes for the family will have no effect on their set-up at Kensington Palace.

It will remain their London home and office even after they become Prince and Princess of Wales.

But Anne Mahal is a long trek from London, often requiring the family to travel by helicopter, and is far from Catherine's parents, sister and brother who play a huge part in their children's lives.

The Duke and Duchess have increased their royal duty significantly in the past 12 months.

Meanwhile, the Queen is slowly handing over more of her work, while the absence of Prince Harry and Meghan and Prince Andrew has meant other senior royals are having to pick up the slack.

William and Catherine are also said to be looking at the Ludgrove Boarding School for Prince George, where William and Harry went due to its close proximity to Fort Belvedere.

In December, the Queen urged Prince William to stop flying helicopters with his family because she is terrified that disaster could strike, a source told The Sun.

The 95-year-old monarch has had several conversations with William, asking him to stop flying himself, particularly in bad weather amid fears an accident could threaten the line of succession.

Unofficial rules usually prevent senior royals from flying together, but the regulations have been relaxed since William's children were born, allowing for the young family to spend more time together.

The move to Windsor will bring the Cambridges closer to both the Queen and Catherine's family, and the couple is preparing to take on a far more senior role at the heart of the royal family.

The planned move has left those close to the couple aghast as many do not consider Berkshire the proper countryside.

However, the couple believes they can make the commute from Windsor to west London in just 25 minutes.