The Prince and Princess of Wales have always advocated for a discreet lifestyle, far from the excess that could be expected from their position. For years, they lived in Adelaide Cottage, a simple residence surrounded by nature and close to other members of the royal family.

Discomfort at Kensington Palace after Prince William and Kate’s announcement

The Prince and Princess of Wales have always advocated for a discreet lifestyle, far from the excess that could be expected from their position. For years, they lived in Adelaide Cottage, a simple residence surrounded by nature and close to other members of the royal family.

However, in recent months, Prince William and Princess Catherine have chosen to take a new step in their family life. They have decided to leave Adelaide Cottage behind and move to Forest Lodge, a much larger residence located in Windsor Great Park.

The announcement from Prince William and Catherine is official

The new home, located just 5 mi. (8 km) from their previous residence, is a Georgian-style mansion classified as Grade II. It has eight bedrooms, several spacious living rooms, and privileged views.

Although the move doesn’t represent a major change for their children, since George, Charlotte, and Louis will remain close to their usual environment, it has, however, caused some discomfort among the neighbors in the area, who do not look favorably on the new restrictions.

With the arrival of the royal family at Forest Lodge, significant security measures have been implemented. Among them, the restriction of access to a part of the park where the residence is located stands out, something that has not gone unnoticed by the neighbors.

New fences have also been erected, surveillance cameras installed, and trees and hedges planted to reinforce privacy. The closure of usual access points has not been well received by nearby residents.

Prince William and Princess Catherine’s neighbors have erupted

Tom Bunn, 32 years old, is one of the affected neighbors: “Obviously, it’s disappointing, since my dog loves this place. We come every two weeks and now we’ll have to look for another place where he can walk for miles.”

“But I completely understand that William, Catherine, and their family’s security is paramount, so we must make sure they can live happily here.” Another neighbor, from the town of Winkfield, also expressed her discomfort:

“Many of us have been walking our dogs here for 20 years, so being told we can’t anymore is a low blow. We pay annually for the maintenance of a park, but now they’re not going to allow us to use part of it.”

“We’ve only been given a few days’ notice to tell us that this section of the woods is going to close permanently. Now I’ll have to take the car to go farther and walk my dog.”

According to the authorities, the closure is justified for security reasons. Since these are lands belonging to the Crown, they are considered sensitive areas and, therefore, receive special protection from public access.