Prince William and Kate Middleton Stir Tensions With Neighbours Again Over Security Measures
Prince William and Kate Middleton are looking forward to moving from Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge, their new ‘forever home.’ On August 16, a spokesperson for the couple confirmed that the Waleses would be relocating later this year. Ahead of their move, the Prince and Princess of Wales have begun enforcing strict security measures to prevent residents from accessing the car park and gates. Their firm approach has, however, ruffled some feathers with their neighbors, who use the area to walk their dogs and contribute financially to its maintenance.
A board outside the car park read, "Due to the pending designation of part of the Great Park as an exclusion area, access via Cranbourne Gate will permanently cease." Commenting on the inconvenience of their move, resident Tom Bunn told The Sun, "Obviously it’s disappointing as my dog loves it here…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." Meanwhile, a neighbor from nearby Winkfield fumed, "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."
A resident also revealed that the last-minute brief notice about the forest closure upset her. She said, "We pay annually towards the upkeep of a park, but we are no longer going to be allowed to use part of it…Now I’ll need to get in my car to drive further afield to take my dog for a walk." While some neighbors have expressed displeasure, others are looking forward to welcoming the royal couple. In the same spirit, one shared, "We love the royals and William and Kate, and it’s so exciting they are moving to Forest Lodge. It’s clear this car park closure has not come from them, but is down to security concerns."
With regards to William and Middleton’s security measures, public access around the property will be permanently blocked once it becomes a designated property under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) 2005. The decision, which did not need public opinion, reads, "By the relocation of a protected principal residing at the Forest Lodge site, it reflects its use as part of the wider Crown Land within Windsor and therefore is appropriate to afford this site the same protection as other Crown properties designated under section 128 of the SOCPA 2005."
Interestingly, this isn’t the first dispute the Prince and Princess have had with neighbors regarding their move to Forest Lodge. Last month, it was reported that tenants were allegedly being forced to move out to make way for the royal couple. An insider told the Daily Mail, "They were not expecting it. Those houses are very close to the lodge, so they're not going to want any Tom, Dick, or Harry living in those houses if there are going to be royals there." The source further claimed that "two separate families who lived in cottages next to the country mansion were asked to vacate their properties."