Windsor Castle stops free entry for locals, sparks fury

The perk was offered by The Royal Collection Trust, but it will end on June 1.

Published on: May 22, 2024, 01:53:18 IST

By Sumanti Sen

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Windsor Castle has ended free entry for locals, leaving many angry. The perk was offered by The Royal Collection Trust. However, it will end on June 1 this year.

Windsor Castle stops free entry for locals (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File) (AP)

From June 1, residents with a Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Advantage Card will need to make a payment to enter. However, they will receive a 50 percent discount.

Blasting the move, liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Julian Tisi said that locals deserve free access. “Windsor, and specifically the castle, is visited by millions of people from around the world,” he said, according to Independent.

“During the season, residents gladly welcome tourists to their shops and restaurants, they drive them around in taxis and are happy to give directions in the street,” he added. “In return, we get to live and work near one of the most iconic buildings in the world – and visit when we choose.”

‘We are continuing to explore ways to make the Castle as accessible as possible’

The 1,000-year-old fortress is located in Berkshire. The king uses it as one of his official residences. Although it is a working palace, it remains open to the public throughout the year.

“We consider those in the ‘big house on the hill’ to be our neighbours and want to work with them on this to ensure no resident is priced out of visiting the castle,” Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead councillor Amy Tisi said, according to BBC.

A Royal Collection Trust spokesperson stated that it “regularly" reviewed its pricing. It also updated its policy to "be in line with other businesses in the borough".

“We are continuing to explore ways to make the Castle as accessible as possible to visitors from the local area, with current initiatives, including free visits for community organisations working with under-represented groups, and a travel subsidy and access scheme for schools working with children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds," the spokesperson added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

Windsor Castle

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