Kate and Wills' 'ring of steel': Preparations begin for 150-acre 'no-go zone' around the Waleses new Windsor 'forever home'
Work is underway on William and Kate's new 'ring of steel' as they set about fencing off a 150-acre no-go zone around their forever home.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have imposed a 2.3-mile personal exclusion area around Forest Lodge, a Georgian mansion in Windsor Great Park.
It is understood those who venture past the 'no trespassing' signs – intended to keep William, Kate and their three children safe – will face immediate arrest.
New images show the beginning of preparations aimed at keeping members of the public out of the area as cars and lorries arrive to erect a wooden fence.
State-of-the art equipment is visible assisting workmen who hammer in the new measures.
Another shot shows the enforcement of the car park closure at Windsor Great Park – a move that has proved a particular sore point for local residents.
Meanwhile, pick-up trucks have also arrived on site transporting the necessary materials to ensure full protection.
Home Office plans mean the estate will be getting the latest CCTV equipment. In addition, the area around Forest Lodge is set to become a designated property under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) 2005.
A sign outside the car park at Windsor Great Park which has been been closed permanently from the end of September
Another shot shows the enforcement of the car park closure - a move that has proved a particular sore point for local residents
The Home Office is to create a 150-acre exclusion zone around Forest Lodge, the eight-bedroom mansion set to be the new home for the Prince and Princess of Wales
Kate and William moved into their current home, the Grade II-listed Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Home Park, in August 2022.
However, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have since been looking for a fresh start after several difficult years there, which included both Kate and the King being diagnosed with cancer .
Kate has already been spotted picking furniture to kit out the new abode, including a 24-seat table.
Security minister Dan Jarvis's order, which came into force on Sunday, gives officers the power to arrest trespassers and is intended to act 'as a deterrent for incursions'.
But the new plans have not gone down well with some locals, many of whom will see substantial changes to their access arrangements.
A car park has been permanently closed, while there will no longer be access to Windsor Great Park at Cranbourne Gate, which residents could use for an annual charge of £110 annually.
It is understood that those who venture past the 'no trespassing' signs – intended to keep William, Kate and their three children safe – will face immediate arrest
Pick-up trucks have also arrived on site transporting the necessary materials to ensure full protection
Prince William and Princess Kate are set to move their family from Adelaide Cottage and make Forest Lodge their new 'forever home' by the end of the year
Forest Lodge is a considerable upgrade from the cosy four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage, which has been home to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during challenging times, including Kate and the King's cancer diagnoses and the death of Queen Elizabeth II
One local woman told the Sun: '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.
'We pay annually towards the upkeep of a park, but we are no longer going to be allowed to use part of it.
'They’ve only given us a few days notice to say this section of forest is closing forever. Now I’ll need to get in my car to drive further afield to take my dog for a walk.'
Despite some frustration at the new arrangements, other residents have expressed sympathy towards the royal couple's need for privacy and enhanced security.
Adelaide Cottage is within easy distance of Lambrook School, where Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, ten, and Prince Louis, seven, are all pupils.
It is believed the move from London to Adelaide Cottage was to allow the family to be closer to the late Queen and to give the children a more ordinary way of life with more privacy.
But the change coincided with a challenging period for the Royal Family, with Queen Elizabeth dying at Balmoral Castle only weeks later.
Adelaide Cottage also provided a private and tranquil setting for Kate's recovery from chemotherapy after she was diagnosed with cancer last year.
The family has no live-in staff at their current home and this is also reportedly set to be the case once they move into this bigger abode.
The new property, Forest Lodge, is only four miles from Adelaide Cottage.
The Grade II-listed Georgian property, nestled in a secluded spot inside the 4,800-acre Windsor Great Park, comes complete with Venetian windows and a hallway with a barrel-vaulted ceiling.
Forest Lodge also offers spectacular views, and football fanatic William will be able to see the Wembley Arch from his bedroom window.
Kensington Palace and the Home Office have been contacted for comment.
