Prince William and Princess Kate are facing backlash from residents near their soon-to-be home, Forest Lodge in Windsor, after new security measures reportedly blocked access to parts of Windsor Great Park.
Locals have branded the royal couple “hypocritical,” claiming the restrictions go against the family’s message of encouraging outdoor activities and community connection.
A Grand Move for the Wales Family
The Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their three children—Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7—are expected to move into their new “forever home” before Christmas. The move from Adelaide Cottage was confirmed in August, with extensive renovations and heightened security preparations already underway.
However, while the relocation promises a fresh start for the family, residents in Windsor Great Park say it has come at a cost to their own access and enjoyment of the area.
Public Access Restricted Around Forest Lodge
A new restricted zone has been established around Forest Lodge, featuring a 2.3-mile perimeter fence, high-tech surveillance cameras, and additional hedging to ensure privacy for the royal family. The measures mean several familiar walking paths and amenities are now permanently off-limits to the public.
The restricted area includes parts of parkland south of Windsor Castle—land that has been part of the royal estate since the 14th century. Those attempting to enter the area risk immediate arrest.
Cranbourne Gate car park, once accessible to residents who paid an annual £110 fee for exclusive parking, has also been abruptly closed off, sparking widespread frustration.
Locals were reportedly informed of the “important changes to access” only in late September by Windsor Great Park management, leaving many residents feeling blindsided.
Residents Express Anger Over Sudden Changes
Many worry that other nearby car parks will become overcrowded, especially on weekends when families visit the park.
“(The Royal Family) encourage us to go out in the fresh air, and then they’re restricting us. It’s hypocritical,” one local dog walker told The Telegraph.
Macca Sherifi, who runs the Windsor Uncovered travel blog and regularly jogs through the park, also voiced frustration. “It’s not so much the security measure itself that people are questioning, but the lack of clarity and transparency about why specific paths were chosen and whether any alternatives will be provided,” she said. “It feels like a public right of way has quietly become off-limits without explanation.”
Robin Paulson, an equestrian and longtime park visitor, shared similar feelings: “They haven’t given us any warning or notice. I’m pretty angry about it.”
Some residents mourned the loss of scenic areas such as South Forest and a hillside that offered sweeping views toward Forest Lodge. One woman described taking a “sentimental final walk” with her husband before the path was closed. “We loved that hill,” she said sadly.
A New Chapter for the Wales Family
Despite the controversy, royal sources suggest the move to Forest Lodge represents an opportunity for the Prince and Princess of Wales to turn the page after several challenging years. Between the death of Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles’s cancer diagnosis, and Princess Kate’s own health struggles, the family is said to be seeking stability and privacy.
According to a royal insider, the relocation offers the family “an opportunity for a fresh start and a new chapter” and a chance “to leave some of the more unhappy memories behind.”
