finance
Crown Estate spent £400,000 on Forest Lodge before Wales family moved in
A National Audit Office report states the Crown Estate spent nearly £400,000 refurbishing Forest Lodge before the Prince and Princess of Wales took residence in October 2025. The eight-bedroom property is leased for 20 years at an annual rent of £307,200.
Jun 5, 5:57 PM·1m read1 source
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A National Audit Office report published today states the Crown Estate spent close to £400,000 refurbishing Forest Lodge before the Prince and Princess of Wales moved in last October. The eight-bedroom Georgian mansion in Windsor received heating, plumbing and structural repairs costing £213,353.
Two stable cottages required additional work at £48,575 and £90,626, while the barn also underwent refurbishment.
Lease and costs The couple signed a 20-year lease in July 2025.
The annual rent of £307,200 covers the main residence, a 7.4-acre paddock, a barn and three stable cottages. The couple paid privately for internal improvements and relocation costs. Rent reviews are scheduled every five years.
Staff housing Two of the three stable cottages are occupied by employees, with renovation costs for those properties totaling nearly £140,000. One cottage remained unoccupied until January 2026. The family also holds a separate lease on Staff Lodge 1, a two-bedroom property renewed in May 2025 at £19,800 per year.
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