Prince William and Kate Face £42k Stamp Duty
Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, reportedly paid an estimated £42,000 in stamp duty connected to their long-term move to Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park, despite the arrangement being a lease rather than a traditional home purchase. The figure has drawn attention because stamp duty is more commonly associated with buying property, not renting.
Hello Magazine reported that the Prince of Wales paid the sum on 21 July last year, the same day the 20-year lease for the eight-bedroom property was signed.
The report said the couple relocated from Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge in autumn last year and intend to use it as a private family home until at least 2045. It added that they are also paying £307,200 a year in rent for the property, using private income, with stamp duty in rare cases applying to expensive or long-term rentals in England and Northern Ireland.
The move has been framed as a fresh start for the family following Catherine’s cancer diagnosis in 2024 and her subsequent remission, with the couple said to spend low-key weekends at home with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Separate from their Windsor base, the Waleses’ London arrangements have also been under discussion, including a report that they were planning changes to Kensington Palace security as their household set-up evolves.
Forest Lodge, previously known as Holly Grove, underwent extensive restoration work in the early 2000s to retain period details. The latest figures are likely to add to public interest in how senior royals meet the costs associated with official and private residences, particularly when agreements fall outside standard property purchases.
