Prince William's Luxurious New Residence Sparks Controversy in Windsor

Prince William and Princess Kate's move to their new £16 million permanent home at Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park has sparked anger from local residents who say they've lost access to vast areas of public land. The couple relocated last month after difficult years marked by cancer diagnoses for both Kate and King Charles, Queen Elizabeth's death, and family scandals.

The move fulfills William's promise to protect his family's privacy following his mother Princess Diana's death. "If you allow this to creep into your life, the damage it can do to your family life is something I swore would never happen to my family," he said.

But residents woke up to what they called "sad news" - they could no longer access large stretches of open fields filled with oak trees that had been public for years. Local dog walkers noticed new fencing extending for long distances, "No Public Access" signs, heavy police presence, surveillance cameras, ditches and barriers as part of strict security measures.

The royal couple imposed a 2.3-mile exclusion zone around Forest Lodge. Anyone caught trespassing in the "exclusion zone under the Serious Organized Crime and Police Act" faces arrest.

For Tina, who owns a home across from Forest Lodge, this hits hard. She warns that while the exclusion zone appears small - just a two-mile radius - dozens of miles are now closed to the public. "Unfortunately, the charm of the place where I've been walking for 15 years is gradually fading," she said.

She explained the real impact: "Anyone can buy a permit to enter Windsor Great Park car parks and walk in public areas, so closing the car park and land behind Forest Lodge - about three times the size of St. James Park - has affected thousands of people."

The restrictions go beyond walking paths. An environmental education center for children inside the new exclusion zone has closed. Reports say two families living in homes near William's new residence were evicted.

The Crown Estate said it's working to minimize impact on park users. "While we work together to reduce the impact on park users as much as possible, we will temporarily suspend our activities at the site while working closely with the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust to identify potential alternative locations."

The controversy shows how royal security needs clash with public access rights, even in areas that have been open to residents for decades.