00:00$530,000 Royal Rent Locks In As William and Kate Flea Trauma Home, British Families Shut Out
00:08Last November, William and Kate moved into Forest Lodge, an 8-bedroom mansion in Windsor Great Park.
00:15Their fresh start closed 150 acres of public parkland, restricting long-used gates and angering locals.
00:22In November 2025, William and Kate moved to Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park for a fresh start,
00:30leaving Adelaide Cottage linked to family tragedies and called cursed, despite local disruptions.
00:36Forest Lodge, originally Holly Grove, dates to the 1770s and sits within 5,000 acres of Windsor Great Park.
00:45The mansion includes a ballroom, tennis court, paddock, and private lake, valued at £16 million in 2025.
00:54Beyond the luxury, its significance lies in its potential as a permanent family home.
01:00The move, initially planned for Christmas 2025, occurred in early November after renovations finished ahead of schedule.
01:06William and Kate thanked staff at a party on October 31st and relocated during school half-term,
01:13keeping their children at Lambrook School.
01:15Forest Lodge underwent £1.5 million in 2001 restorations,
01:21and recent alterations included window removal and fireplace updates, paid privately by the couple.
01:27While cost was covered, the upgrade sparked debate about security and public access.
01:33By September 2025, security crews installed a 2.3-mile fence around 150 acres of parkland,
01:41planting hedges, installing cameras, and closing long-used gates.
01:47Trespassing became criminal under Section 128, frustrating locals who had enjoyed the area for decades.
01:55Cranbourne Gate and others used by dog walkers and cyclists were shut permanently, affecting annual pass holders.
02:01Tenants in nearby cottages were also relocated, heightening community dissatisfaction over restricted access.
02:08January 2026 brought additional maintenance closures of Savile Garden facilities and the Gallery Café,
02:15compounding frustration as residents faced longer journeys and disrupted routines.
02:20Windsor Great Park, historically open to the public after serving monarchs, now feels restricted.
02:26Locals and historians viewed the closures as reversing a long-standing tradition of royal accessibility.
02:34The Public Accounts Committee investigated royal property leases, including Forest Lodge's 20-year lease.
02:40While the rent is reportedly at market rates, estimated at $380,000 to $530,000 annually,
02:47secrecy and prior peppercorn rent stories fueled scrutiny.
02:51William and Kate intend Forest Lodge as a permanent base to raise their children,
02:56seeking privacy and healing after Kate's cancer treatment and King Charles' health struggles.
03:03Proximity to Lambrook School aids normalcy, while security measures limit public access.
03:08Forest Lodge reflects a modern monarchy, prioritizing privacy and family life.
03:14Yet, the cost 150 acres closed, families displaced, historic routes lost,
03:19has sparked ethical debate and public frustration,
03:23highlighting tensions between royal life and community access.
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