Inside Kate Middleton and Prince William's New Life in Windsor as a 'Modern Royal Family'

Mar. 15, 2025

This fall has been a season of change forPrince WilliamandKate Middleton.

The children are settling into a new school,Lambrook, where they began classes on the day the Queen died. A source close to the family acknowledges it has been a stressful time, especially for Princess Kate.

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“Things were very tense that week; it was not exactly the settling-in period they had hoped for,” the source tells PEOPLE in this week’s cover story.

Prince George, Kate Middleton, Prince Louis, Prince William and Princess Charlotte.JONATHAN BRADY/POOL/AFP via Getty

But the couple, following the lead of William’s fatherKing Charles IIIandQueen Camilla, are intent on showcasing stability and unity. As if to prove the point, Buckingham Palace released apoignant portraiton Oct. 1 of the foursome.

“That was a very important image of what the modern monarchy and reign of King Charles will look like,” says Katie Nicholl, author ofThe New Royals:Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Crown. “They represent the future House of Windsor.”

Queen Camilla, King Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton.Chris Jackson/Getty

As William and Kate embrace a heavier royal workload and the increased visibility that comes with it, they look forward to providing continued stability for their children at their new home in Windsor. In Windsor, the family relishes the open parkland and countryside wherePrince George,Princess CharlotteandPrince Louiscan freely play.

“They love that the kids can go out on their bikes and cycle around the estate, and they are all really excited to meet everyone,” says a friend. “It’s a real little community.”

With Lambrook a 15-minute drive from home,Prince Williamand Kate try to do the school drop-off and pickup most days. And although insiders say they will eventually live in the 1,000-year-old Windsor Castle itself, for now cottage life is much like it is at their beloved country retreat, Amner Hall in Norfolk, where the kids and their friends are in and out of the swimming pool. George will flop onto the sofa beside his father, while Charlotte makes a beeline for familiar guests.

Theirs is a life of a “modern royal family doing normal things,” as one close family friend puts it.

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Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte at Trooping the Colour on June 2.Karwai Tang/WireImage

Whatever awaits them — and the monarchy — the royal couple will face it together.

It’s all whatQueen Elizabeth, whom William and Kate affectionately called “Grannie,” would have wished, addsMajestymagazine’s Joe Little: “She would expect them to carry on with a stiff upper lip and do so with grace.”

source: people.com