NEED TO KNOW
- Kate Middleton and Prince William plan to move to Forest Lodge in Windsor this year, prompting new security measures
- Reports say locals are no longer able to access areas around Forest Lodge, with some neighbors annoyed by the lack of notice
- One woman called the closures a “kick in the teeth” while others understood the need to protect the royals
As Kate Middleton and Prince William prepare to move to Forest Lodge in Windsor, new security measures around the home are affecting neighbors.
According to The Times, a 2.3-mile perimeter has been enacted around Forest Lodge, where the Prince and Princess of Wales plan to relocate by the end of the year. As of Sunday, Sept. 28, locals no longer have access to the area — and trespassers are to be arrested under the Home Office’s security plans.
Fences were being installed on Sept. 28, with neighbors losing access to the Cranbourne Gate entrance and parking lot of Windsor Great Park, which they pay around $150 per year to use, according to the outlet.
A local told The Sun: “Many of us have been walking our dogs here for 20 years, so to be told we can’t any more is a kick in the teeth. We pay annually towards the upkeep of a park, but we are no longer going to be allowed to use part of it.”
“They’ve only given us a few days’ notice to say this section of forest is closing forever,” she added. “Now I’ll need to get in my car to drive further afield to take my dog for a walk.”
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Another local dogwalker, Tom Bunn, told The Sun that he would regularly park at Cranbourne Gate to take his 9-year-old pet, Mr. Brown, for walks. However, he said he understood the change.
“Obviously, it’s disappointing as my dog loves it here. We come here every couple of weeks, and we’re going to have to find somewhere else now for him to get the miles in,” he said. “But I completely understand that the safety of William, Kate and their family is paramount, so we should make sure they can live happily here.”
In addition to the closures, The Times reports that new trees have been planted and CCTV cameras have been installed to add privacy and security around Forest Lodge.
The Daily Mail previously reported that two households near Forest Lodge were asked to vacate earlier this summer. PEOPLE understands that there were no eviction notices, and the tenants have moved to similar or better housing within Windsor Great Park, with everyone remaining in Crown Estate properties.
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In another move to ensure their privacy, Prince William and Princess Kate will continue not to have any live-in staff after their move to Forest Lodge, PEOPLE understands. Their three children’s longtime nanny, Maria Turrion Borrallo, and housekeepers will likely stay in smaller properties nearby.
Forest Lodge is located just four miles away from their current residence, Adelaide Cottage, so the Prince and Princess of Wales are familiar with the area. However, Forest Lodge is said to be the family’s forever home, where they plan to stay even when William accedes to the throne someday. They relocated from London to Windsor in 2022 to test if the location would work for their family, and the eight-bedroom residence is larger than their current four-bedroom home.
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Speaking at the Irish Guards’ St. Patrick’s Day parade in March, Princess Kate said, “We are in Windsor at the moment. We were in London but moved there for more green space. It’s close enough to London, not too far away.”
The move will also allow for a fresh start after a difficult few years, which included Queen Elizabeth‘s death in September 2022 as well as both Princess Kate and King Charles being diagnosed with cancer in 2024.
