Prior to these changes, members of the public were allowed to walk near the grounds, and a Christmas tree shop was accessible nearby. The new restrictions are expected to put an end to these activities.

Neighbours Voice Their Concerns

Residents speaking to The Telegraph expressed frustration over the impact these measures will have on their daily lives.

One neighbour reportedly shared:
“[The royal family] encourage us to go out in the fresh air, and then they’re restricting us. I’m totally in favour of protecting the royal family against idiots who might try to shoot at them or take photographs. But the house is very far away, they’ve put a huge fence around it and there are lots of cameras in the fields. We’re not impressed, I’m afraid.”

Another local expressed disappointment, saying:
“I’m pretty angry about it. I think there are lots of other places they could have gone to live. I was excited when I heard they were moving there, but I always wondered how they would manage the security. They haven’t given us any warning or notice. And there hasn’t been any explanation other than it’s for security.”

A third neighbour voiced concerns over the lack of transparency:
“It’s not so much the security measure itself that people are questioning, but the lack of clarity and transparency about why specific paths were chosen and whether any alternatives will be provided. It feels like a public right of way has quietly become off-limits without explanation.”

Royal Insider has reportedly reached out to Kensington Palace for comment, though no official statement has yet been issued.