Residents have expressed anger over strict new security measures imposed around Prince William and Kate Middleton’s permanent Windsor residence, Forest Lodge, which has restricted public access to parts of Windsor Great Park.
Authorities have introduced a 150-acre exclusion zone extending 2.3 miles around the property, complete with CCTV cameras, high barriers, and strategic landscaping. The restrictions affect eight homes within Windsor Great Park, Berkshire.
As part of the security package, the popular Cranbourne Gate car park has been permanently closed, cutting off a key entry point for locals. Residents who previously paid £110 a year for access to the park were told their entry rights have now ended. A formal order confirmed: “Due to the pending designation of part of the Great Park as an exclusion area, access via Cranbourne Gate will permanently cease.” Warning signs are also being installed, with trespassers facing potential detention under Home Office regulations.
Local residents have reacted with fury, saying they have been unfairly locked out of land they have used for decades. One visitor told The Sun: “Many of us have been walking our dogs here for 20 years, so to be told we can’t anymore is a kick in the teeth. We pay annually towards the upkeep of the park, but we are no longer going to be allowed to use part of it. They only gave us a few days’ notice.” She added that she would now be forced to drive elsewhere to walk her dog, calling the decision disruptive to daily life.
The move has deepened tensions between the royal couple and local communities, raising questions about how to balance royal security needs with public access to historic green spaces.
