Prince William and Kate Middleton’s New Home Sparks Controversy Among Locals
Prince William and Kate Middleton have seemed to ruffle some feathers with a massive “no-go zone” that’s set to be imposed around their new property. The Prince and Princess of Wales are gearing up to move into Forest Lodge, the Georgian mansion located near Windsor Great Park, in the coming months.
The exclusion zone will span approximately 150 acres — meaning that locals will risk immediate arrest if they venture beyond the “no trespassing” sign, according to reports. The 2.3-mile perimeter is intended to ensure that the future king and queen, as well as their three children George, 12, Charlotte, 10, and Louis, 7, have an enhanced level of privacy once they move into the eight-bedroom property.
Locals Express Frustration Over Loss of Access to Windsor Great Park
While residents understand that the royals need a different level of security than their neighbors, some locals were left fuming over the substantial changes to the neighborhood. “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,” one resident said. “We pay annually towards the upkeep of a park but we are no longer going to be allowed to use part of it.”
Residents will no longer be granted access to Windsor Great Park through Cranbourne Gate, which boasted a private car park that locals paid $150 per year to use. The new exclusion zone will also be heavily observed with the help of 24/7 surveillance cameras. Other privacy measures include new trees and shrubs planted around the property, as well as a new fence that shields the home from public view.
A Look into the Royal Family’s New Home
The Georgian mansion, located near Windsor Great Park, features a total of eight bedrooms, six bathrooms, a tennis court and dates back to the 1770s. The property boasts a cool $21 million price tag. Gardeners and decorators have been spotted at the estate in recent days, as several rooms of the home were getting a much-needed revamp. Princess Catherine has recently been spotted picking new furniture for the new royal abode, including a stunning 24-seater dining table.
The family’s house hunt was revealed in July, with sources saying the couple — who wed in 2011 — were looking for a larger home that boasts more square footage, larger gardens and more privacy. The Waleses are gearing up to move into Forest Lodge in the coming months, and it will be interesting to see how the new exclusion zone affects the local community. For more information on this story, visit Here
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