Residents of the Windsor area are criticizing Prince William and Princess Kate's move to 'Forest Lodge', arguing that the real cost to residents is more destructive and far-reaching than people realize. After difficult years, beginning with Kate and King Charles's cancer diagnosis, Queen Elizabeth's death, and family scandals, William and his wife began a new life last month by moving to their permanent home at 'Forest Lodge', a £16 million mansion located on the vast grounds of Windsor Great Park. This move follows William's promise to protect his family's privacy after his mother, Princess Diana's death, saying: 'If you let this thing get into your life, the damage it can do to your family life is something I have sworn will never happen to my family.' However, this major move has already been met with controversy from angry local residents who say they woke up suddenly to news they described as 'devastating', stating they can no longer access vast open fields filled with oak trees. They say that dozens of hectares of land previously open to the public have been closed to accommodate the Wales family and their children, with the utmost priority given to their safety and security. Major changes. Before the announcement, dog walkers in the area noticed the appearance of long fences, the erection of 'No Public Access' signs, a heavy police presence, CCTV cameras, and new ditches and fences under strict security measures, leading to a significant change in the area's character. The royal couple also imposed a 2.3-mile exclusion zone around 'Forest Lodge', and anyone caught trespassing in the 'exclusion zone under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act' will be arrested. For Mrs Tina, who lives on the other side of 'Forest Lodge', this is a huge blow, and she warns that although the exclusion zone is portrayed as a small area, just a mile in radius, the reality is that dozens of miles have now been closed to the public. She said: 'Sadly, the charm of the place where I have walked for 15 years is slowly starting to fade.' She added: 'Anyone can buy a permit to enter the car parks of Windsor Great Park and walk in public areas, so closing the car park and an area of land behind 'Forest Lodge' that is about three times the size of St James's Park could have affected thousands of people.' Reported by 'The Mirror', the impact has been minimized. Not only have the walking paths on the lands of Windsor Great Park been affected, an environmental education center for children within the new restricted zone has been closed, and it has been reported that two families living in houses near Prince William's new home were evicted. Regarding the center's closure, Crown Estate stated: 'While we work together to minimize the impact on park users, we will temporarily suspend our activities at the site while we work closely with the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust to identify potential alternative locations.'
