While Prince William is next in line to the throne, he is equally well known as a devoted family man who places his wife, Kate Middleton, and their three children above all else.
One significant decision about his home life speaks volumes about William’s character, according to a leading royal expert.
While his father, King Charles, employs a live-in team of 28, William and Catherine chose not to have live-in staff at their former four-bedroom Adelaide House, though a team did assist them on a daily basis.
The family has since relocated to the eight-bedroom Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park, alongside their children Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight.
Described as their ‘forever home’, it is believed that, much like at Adelaide Cottage, they have opted against live-in staff as they remain focused on maintaining a private family environment in which to raise their children, reports the Express.
View 3 ImagesPrince William always puts his family first(Image: PA)
Speaking to the i, royal expert Robert Hardman said: “They didn’t have staff then, but they probably do at their new place. Then again, it’s very difficult to know about their staffing arrangements because he is suspicious of the press. He doesn’t want this huge entourage – he’s got a close-knit team.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales privately funded the move and are paying market rate rent on the property.
William revealed that he and Catherine are paying £307,200 a year in rent for Forest Lodge, which is owned by the Crown Estate. Of that figure, £234,000 covers the main house, with the remainder going towards three cottages within the grounds. In the aftermath of the Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor scandal and his ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, there are growing demands for greater openness surrounding royal finances.
Royal historian and biographer Andrew Lownie believes that “William is calling the shots more now that we’re in this transitional phase towards him taking over.”
The expert suggests this is demonstrated by the way the situation involving his uncle Andrew has been handled, with Andrew denying any wrongdoing in relation to his association with Epstein.
View 3 ImagesWilliam and his family moved into Forest Lodge(Image: Getty Images)
William has reportedly been the driving force behind stripping his uncle of his royal titles following his arrest, and his subsequent withdrawal from public life.
Mr Lownie told the i: “I think he’s cleaner than the others,” he says, “and the tension is that he wants a clean stable when he moves into the role of king. William also has Kate, who is a really tough one, and behind that smiling exterior she’s like the steely queen mum.
“Kate gets how it all works – and I’m always struck that it is often the outsiders who better understand the institution rather than those who are born to it.
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“Kate helps William see the reputational damage and he is much tougher than his father or any other royal relatives. The couple is much better at reading the room.”