Locals lose access as security tightened around William and Kate’s ‘forever home’

William and Kate will be protected by a significant no-go area, prohibiting locals from accessing the land near their new home.

CCTV cameras, extensive fencing, and landscaping will deter trespassers from the eight-bedroom Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park, Berks.

Frustrated dog walkers received orders to leave the area near William and Kate’s "forever home," with the Home Office’s closure of a car park and loss of access being described as a "kick in the teeth."

The Prince and Princess of Wales, both 43, along with children George, 12, Charlotte, ten, and Louis, seven, will be safeguarded by a restricted zone around the eight-bedroom Forest Lodge.

A car park and gate access to Windsor Great Park, which locals paid £110 annually to use, closed permanently at 7pm.

Trespassers on the property will be subject to arrest under Home Office plans.

The area encompasses approximately 150 acres and has a 2.3-mile perimeter, which will be marked with signs warning people to stay out.

Contractors were observed installing the last fence posts yesterday as the Windsor Half Marathon participants ran past.

An order stated: “Due to the upcoming designation of part of the Great Park as an exclusion area, access via Cranbourne Gate will permanently cease.”

Some residents were annoyed but acknowledged that the royals’ security was of the utmost importance.

Mechanical engineer Tom Bunn, 32, frequently parks at the gate to take his nine-year-old dog, Mr. Brown, for a walk through the fields near Forest Lodge.

Tom, from Maidenhead, Berks, said: “Obviously, it’s disappointing as my dog loves it here.

“We come here every couple of weeks, and now we have to find a new place for him to get his exercise. But I completely understand that the safety of William, Kate, and their family is paramount, so we must ensure they can live happily here.”

A woman from nearby Winkfield said: “Many of us have been walking our dogs here for 20 years, so being told we can’t anymore is a kick in the teeth.

“We pay annually for the maintenance of the park, but we can no longer use part of it.

“They’ve only given us a few days’ notice to say this section of the forest is permanently closing.

“Now I’ll have to drive further to find a new place to walk my dog.”

Locals previously had the option to apply for keys to Cranbourne Gate if they resided within half a mile.

Many of us have been walking our dogs here for 20 years, and now being told we can’t is a kick in the teeth.

Visitors from further away would also purchase Christmas trees from a store within the area, which also housed an educational center.

Other closed access points include Sandpit Gate, Woodend Gate, and the South Forest.

Insiders say Wills and his family are hoping for a fresh start after a challenging time at nearby Adelaide Cottage, during which Queen Elizabeth II passed away, and both Kate and Charles were diagnosed with cancer.

Another resident added: “We love the royals, and William and Kate, and it’s so exciting they are moving to Forest Lodge. It’s evident that this car park closure is not their decision; it is due to security concerns.”

Workers have spent weeks erecting a large wooden perimeter fence to close off woods and green space around the Grade II-listed Georgian house.

Trees have been planted for privacy, and advanced CCTV cameras have been installed in the surrounding fields, with wiring buried under the soil at the rear of the property.

Public access will be permanently blocked once the property is designated under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) 2005.

The law protects crown land as well as private land belonging to the King or immediate heir.

Plans prepared by the Home Office now designate Forest Lodge as a “new residence” on private Crown Estate land.

They indicate that the new boundary was agreed upon by “all those involved,” including Thames Valley Police and the Royal Household.

The decision, which didn’t require public consultation, states: “The reason for the designation is that the site was previously used by non-protected tenants, so the designation of land and property wasn’t needed.

“With a protected principal now residing at Forest Lodge, it reflects its use as part of the broader Crown Land within Windsor, and it is appropriate to grant this site the same protection as other Crown properties designated under section 128 of the SOCPA 2005.”

I completely understand the safety of William, Kate, and their family is paramount, so we should ensure they can live happily here, - Tom Bunn

The order, initiated by security minister Dan Jarvis, comes into effect today after being made on September 4 and laid before Parliament on September 8.

It grants officers “powers of arrest for trespassers” and serves “as a deterrent for intrusions.”

Last week, Windsor Great Park sent notifications to paying members who use the car park, warning of “important changes to access.”

The note stated: “We understand that some members may wish to cancel their membership—if that’s the case, please reach out to the membership team to discuss further.”

Kensington Palace commented that they do not disclose security matters.

The Home Office was approached for a comment.

Elizabeth Baker