Pippa Middleton, the sister of Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, and her husband James Matthews have unveiled plans to upgrade Forest Lodge, the eight-bedroom Crown Estate property in Windsor Great Park they bought for £15 million in 2022. With Prince William and Catherine awaiting minor works to be completed before moving in at Christmas, the couple’s proposals add another high-profile project to the family’s property endeavors and deepen the narrative around the royal-circle real estate activity surrounding Windsor.
The proposals call for demolishing a 1970s extension to “enhance the arrival experience in a manner commensurate with the building’s significance,” and for the creation of a garden room described as a “desirable feature of contemporary living,” along with a new kitchen. The plan intersects with Forest Lodge’s storied past: the current kitchen was the work of Sir Terence Conran, who bought the house as a wreck in 1971 and oversaw its restoration. In a prior phase of renovations, the Matthews replaced Conran’s kitchen garden with a swimming pool, underscoring that the couple are not shy about reshaping the home to their tastes. Forest Lodge, however, does not feature a kitchen garden, though it does boast a ballroom, a detail that reflects the property’s stately scale and its potential for grand entertaining.
The planning gestures around Forest Lodge come as Kate and William’s anticipated move to the Windsor home looms. While awaiting the completion of minor external and internal works, the couple are expected to take up residence at Christmas, a timeline that places Pippa and James’s upgrades in a larger royal‑adjacent context. The sister’s plans have long been canvassed in society pages, though the larger story here centers on how the family toggles between private life and the public spectacle that surrounds royal properties in and around Windsor.
Separately, the family’s Berkshire footprint has continued to grow with Bucklebury Farm. Earlier this year, Pippa and James announced plans to open a nursery at the farm, a project that drew some concern from local authorities about potential traffic. Councils ultimately granted permission, citing social benefits and the local shortage of early years places. The decision highlighted a balancing act between the couple’s private business interests and community considerations in rural Berkshire.
At Bucklebury Farm, the Matthews have sustained a significant, multi-faceted operation. The property includes a deer park, a soft play area, animal petting, office space and a cafe, along with rustic glamping tents that offer families an off-grid option with heating but without electricity or Wi‑Fi. The scale and variety of these improvements reflect a broader strategy to diversify the family’s rural portfolio while maintaining a presence in the countryside where they have long maintained interests and investments.
The Nottingham‑area spotlight on Pippa and James’s Berkshire holdings extends beyond the immediate properties. Their projects tie into a pattern of high-profile renovations and expansions across family properties, with Forest Lodge representing a flagship in Windsor Great Park and Bucklebury Farm continuing to serve as a broader rural enterprise. As the royal circle navigates the intersection of private residences, public expectations and local community impacts, the latest plans for Forest Lodge will be watched for how they balance heritage with modern living and how they align with the broader arch of the family’s life in the countryside.