The Prince and Princess of Wales’ permanent residence at Forest Lodge is perfectly situated – near Windsor Castle for official meetings, a short distance from London for outings in the capital, and less than three hours from their stunning country retreat at Anmer Hall.
Their home in leafy Norfolk is where the couple and their three children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven, go to unwind – and it is also where they host Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.
An insight into the Middletons’ stay at Anmer Hall
In 2024, the princess featured in a rare candid video filmed at Anmer Hall and the surrounding woodland to announce the end of her preventative chemotherapy for cancer. In this unprecedented video filmed inside their home, Carole and Michael Middleton made an appearance, playing card games with their royal children in the charming dining room.
© GettyThe video offered an insight into Carole’s role as a grandmother amid a difficult period in her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren’s lives, and in a new book that shines a spotlight on William and Kate’s story, royal editor Russell Myers reveals that the Middleton matriarch was more vital to the family than the public first knew.
Carole Middleton’s ‘normal’ influence
Writing in William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, Myers explained of Kate’s role in creating a sense of normality in her children’s upbringing: “The Middleton family, who had become a constant presence in their lives, were crucial to this. William appreciated their involvement beyond measure, enjoying their company and the normalcy of the environment, whatever the circumstance. ‘More room to breathe’, he once told an aide.”
© Getty ImagesHe continued: “Michael and Carole enjoyed visiting the couple in Norfolk and would often stay for weekends, providing much-needed extra support for the young family.”
The impact of Carole and Michael on the Wales children was put on public display in December 2024 when Prince Louis left a sweet note on the ‘Kindness’ tree at his mother’s ‘Together at Christmas’ carol service, writing: “Thank you to granny and grandpa because they have played games with me.”
Inside Anmer Hall
It’s no surprise that William and Kate retreat to their Norfolk bolthole to unwind. It is a Georgian country house featuring 10 bedrooms, as well as a swimming pool and a tennis court. It’s a property that holds fond memories for William as he would visit his childhood friends, William and Nicholas van Custem, there between 1990 and 2000 when King Charles‘ friend Hugh van Cutsem rented the home.
© Will WarrOnce Anmer Hall came into the hands of William and Kate (upon their marriage in 2011, when the couple was gifted the house by Queen Elizabeth), they renovated the home to the tune of £1.5 million.
© Will WarrThe kitchen became the heart of the home after the glow-up, and the interior, which was masterminded by designer Ben Pentreath, now features warm lighting, ditsy floral plates on the walls, and mustard walls.
Read the full article here
