Prince William and Kate are ready to move on from the "glorious prison" that is Kensington Palace, according to a royal expert.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with children Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, four, are moving from the London residence to Windsor.
They are believed to have the keys to Adelaide Cottage, a four-bed house on the Berkshire estate, and will formally relocate by the end of the summer.
Their current home, since 2017, is Apartment 1A of the sprawling Palace - a tourist attraction boasting gardens and exhibitions - which is also the residence of royals like The Dukes and Duchesses of Gloucester and of Kent.
Prince Harry lived there in a neighbouring apartment prior to marrying Meghan Markle.
The move will allow second-in-line to the throne William, 40, to be closer to his grandmother the Queen who has been forced to strip back her workload following ongoing health complaints.
It will also allow Kate, 40, to be closer to her own family and where she grew up in Bucklebury, Berkshire, while giving the children more freedom.
Adelaide doesn't have enough space for live in staff, allowing the Cambridge children to have a more 'grounded' upbringing.
Royal biographer and editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, Ingrid Seward, says the couple "need space" to raise their family, and described Windsor as "perfect".
Speaking to The Sun, she said: "Kensington Palace is a glorious prison for kids – they want to be able to play football without being watched from behind the gates.
“I think Windsor will be perfect for them, as they will have lots of freedom and they can all be at school together.”
George and Charlotte have left Thomas’s Battersea Prep School in south-west London, and will be starting at a new local school in Berkshire this September, alongside Louis.
It is speculated to be the co-educational prep Lambrook School in Winkfield Row.
Meanwhile, the Cambridges are spending the summer at their country estate of Anmer Hall in Norfolk as they quietly prepare for the move, with that home still likely to be used for holidays and breaks.
Kate's uncle Gary Goldsmith told The Sun William and Kate are "going to have their hands full" as the move gets closer, adding: "But I think they are ready for the next chapter in their lives."
Since Prince Philip died in April last year, the duke and duchess have stepped up their roles within the Firm to take some of the weight off the 96-year-old monarch.
Her Majesty has also had to pull out of some royal engagements due to mobility issues.
She made a brief appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony to mark the end of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June.
And was joined by the Cambridges, including the kids, as well as Prince Charles and Camilla, highlighting what is now a streamlined central royal core.
A move closer to the Queen while pulling William, Kate and co away from the bustle of London and the eyes of the public, will likely mean putting them more in the spotlight at times than ever.
This will be key as William helps to oversee the transition to his father as King and then himself, all while preparing George for the future.
