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.”