This is the couple who previously occupied the Windsor mansion which has been earmarked as William and Kate’s ‘forever home’.
The Daily Mail revealed last week how the Prince and Princess of Wales plan to move their young family into Forest Lodge and use it as their main home even after William becomes King – superseding Buckingham Palace.
The previous tenants of the house in a private area of Windsor Great Park were society party fixer Alex Fitzgibbons, 53, and his glamorous Swedish-American wife Cristina Stenbeck.
And it’s understood that Mr Fitzgibbons – who is extremely well connected – decided to move out after hearing rumours that his home might be taken back by his landlords.
A local source told us: ‘Alex and Cristina were there for three years and were very happy but I gather that in the run-up to the time when the lease was coming up for renewal he heard suggestions that the Royal Family had other plans for the house.
‘So he decided to leap before he was pushed, as it were – and to make alternative plans.’
The source added: ‘They have now found somewhere else to live in London and appreciate that’s how things go.
‘It made sense for Alex as his business is in town and Cristina is flitting between England and Sweden all the time.
Two families have been asked to leave their homes so the Prince and Princess of Wales can live in the eight-bedroom mansion, Forest Lodge (pictured)
Mr Fitzgibbons (left) has become the ‘go to party man’ for the Windsors, while his heiress wife (right) is equally well-connected and until recently was the board director at Spotify
The couple who previously occupied the Windsor mansion can now be revealed as Alex Fitzgibbons (above, left) and his glamorous Swedish-American wife Cristina Stenbeck (above, right)
‘They were away more often than not – so much so that they each had their own helicopters and you would hear them buzzing about.
‘They are very good friends with Kate and William so it wasn’t a problem at all for them to up sticks.’
The couple moved out last year and arranged an alternative main base – leaving the house free for William’s long term residential ambitions, which became public last week.
The Mail also understands that the elderly occupants of two cottages at the start of a drive leaving to Forest Lodge have also been asked to move.
One of them is an eminent retired cardiologist in his 80s who used to work at nearby Wexham Park Hospital in Slough but also at a private practice in London’s Harley Street.
Our source added: ‘The occupants of the cottages were both elderly pensioners and have been found homes elsewhere on the estate.
‘The two cottages will be turned into police houses as they will need to have security as it’s so open around there.
‘Forest Lodge is visible from the road and although big black screens have been placed around it while work Is taking place you just have to walk up the hill to get a view down on it.
‘A few years ago Sarah Ferguson looked at it but the Queen wasn’t happy with it as it was so open I’m sure all that will be taken into account before William and Kate move in.’
Mr Fitzgibbons, who occupied Forest Lodge for three years, is so well connected that he has become the ‘go to party man’ for the Windsors, as boss of a luxury event planning firm called Fait Accompli.
In this capacity he arranged the after party for William and Kate’s 2011 and also organised a reception for Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018.
The year before that, the Eton old boy with a love for cycling, was the brains behind a Spitfire flypast at Kate’s sister Pippa’s wedding to society figure and hedge fund manager James Matthews.
William, Kate and their three children (pictured) are set to move to the 300-year-old home later this year
William and Kate moved to Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace (pictured) in 2013 after it was refurbished at a cost of £4.5 million – it remains their official London residence
Forest Lodge is a considerable upgrade from the four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage (pictured), the Prince and Princess of Wales’ current Windsor home
Meanwhile his heiress wife Ms Stenbeck, 47, is equally well connected.
She is a major business investor who until recently was the board director at Spotify.
She features regularly in glossy Swedish magazines and is now chairman of Stockholm based Kinnevik, a venture capital firm.
Locals say she has previously hosted members of Sweden’s royal family at Forest Lodge.
Our Windsor insider added: ‘Naturally all the plans of the senior royals are shrouded in secrecy until formally announced but this has been the talk of the estate lately – everyone is fascinated at what they will do with the house and how soon.’
A profile of Mr Fitzgibbons in The Marque – an online business magazine – describes him as arranging ‘legendary parties worldwide events’ – and he was named as an international event planner extraordinaire by Vogue magazine.
The Marque adds: ‘Alex has a wealth of knowledge and expertise admired by the Royal Family and international figures.
‘With over 20 years’ experience working in the events industry at fait accompli, Alex is one of the most highly regarded event planners in the world’.
The profile continues: ‘They pride themselves in their discretion and ability to create their’ client’s visions, always exceeding expectations, however big or small.
‘Fait Accompli ensures every little detail is accounted for and executed to the highest standard.’
On its website Fait Accompli says: ‘We create and orchestrate events and weddings using a network of world-class creatives and suppliers.
‘Our events surpass even the highest expectations. We are as discreet as we are imaginative as meticulous as we are flamboyant.
‘Around the world our clients can rely on us to deliver the extraordinary.’
It is understood that Mr Fitzgibbons (left) decided to move out after hearing rumours that his home might be taken back by his landlords
It adds: ‘Together we have imagined and orchestrated some of the world’s most remarkable creations and weddings at spectacular locations around the world.
‘As individuals we are unflappable and unfailingly discreet. We love what we do.’
Fait Accompli which has been running for 38 years and s based in London and Luxembourg was even rumoured to be a favourite of the late Princess of Wales.
Latest company accounts show it has current assets of more than £8 million and is owed another £3 million.
In 2020 Mr Fitzgibbons raised more than £1 million for Child Bereavement UK a charity of which he is a trustee, with an inspirational ‘triathlon’ style fund raiser.
Supported by friends – including Prince William – and family he crossed the English Channel and the straits between Denmark and Sweden by kayak, ran five marathons and cycled more than 2000 km in just 16 days.
He was joined for the final 5km leg of the run in Stockholm by Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden – who is a close friend of the family.
Before setting off he said: ‘By fundraising for Child Bereavement UK, I hope to help the charity to continue supporting parents who have lost a child and bereaved children who have suffered the loss of a parent or someone important to them.
‘Too many friends of mine have all felt the shattering grief of losing a child; there have been seven children among my friends who have died.
‘I had a burning desire to do something incredibly difficult and challenging to try and raise as much money as possible for child Bereavement UK and in memory of their seven special children who are no longer with us
Anmer Hall (seen above), a ten-bedroom Georgian house on the Sandringham Estate, was a wedding gift to the couple from Queen Elizabeth – this is their country residence
‘As one brave parent said to me ‘Losing a child is one club you never, ever want to be a member of.’
‘This absolutely broke my heart, and I want to ensure that Child Bereavement UK has the funds to be able to continue to help as many parents as possible to find a way through the incredible grief of losing children.’
New-York born Ms Stenbeck has five children and in 2012 was awarded the Swedish Royal Patriotic Society business medal for outstanding entrepreneurship.
In recent months she has been the focus of attention in Sweden over a controversial book on her family’s business deals called ‘The Empire They Inherited’ by journalist Jan Almgren.
The book describes the family’s internal power struggles and author Jam Almgren told one Swedish news outlet: ‘She has tried to put a stop to the book and actively opposed it.’
Earlier this week Swedish newspaper Expressen also highlighted how she had ‘secretly met Russian president Vladimir Putin at his summer palace’ as part of a 2009 business strip and she was among a few specially chosen to see him.
Tragic early death of socialite who once lived in mansion
A high-profile former tenant of William and Kate’s ‘forever home’ was an ex-Tory donor dubbed ‘London’s most connected woman’.
Philanthropist Alisa Swidler was friends with former US President Bill Clinton and actress Charlize Theron, but died suddenly in 2019 aged 47.
The New York-born socialite lived with her husband Josh, a hedge-fund manager, and their five children at Forest Lodge for about a decade before they returned to the US.
Like Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte, the Swidler children all attended nearby Lambrook School.
Ms Swidler was known for throwing up to five parties a year, asking guests to donate to their chosen charities.
Photos seen by The Mail on Sunday show lavish banquets thrown at the Georgian manor house.
A source, who attended Ms Swidler’s parties, described the property as ‘absolutely stunning’, adding: ‘It felt very grand, it’s a very beautiful house.’
Ms Swidler was pictured with David and Samantha Cameron at the Conservative Summer Ball in 2016, and her online blog mentioned encounters with Boris Johnson and Theresa May at Tory events.
The blog also included selfies with Bill and Hillary Clinton, Paul McCartney and Stephen Fry.
Ms Swidler organised the Clinton Foundation’s ‘party of the year’ in 2013 – a fundraising event in the Old Vic Tunnels beneath London’s Waterloo Station.
As well as helping Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Unite charity, Ms Swidler was on the development board of the Royal Albert Hall and English National Ballet.
Philanthropist and ex-Tory donor Alisa Swidler was a high-profile former tenant of William and Kate’s ‘forever home’ before her death in 2019 aged 47. Pictured: Ms Swidler with David and Samantha Cameron at the Conservative Summer Ball in 2016
