Kate Middleton, Prince William’s Home Will Be a No-Fly Zone
It’s going to become a bit harder to catch a glimpse of Princess Charlotte and Prince George, the royal children of Kate Middleton and Prince William. Starting November 1, the family home will be a no-fly zone, “in view of the need for security.”
“The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict flying in the vicinity of Anmer Hall, Norfolk, having regard to the security considerations associated with this location by reason of it being the residence of members of the Royal Family,” reads the order.
Will and Kate have recently been spending more time at Anmer Hall, their luxurious country home located on the queen’s Sandringham Estate, than at their 21-room apartment at Kensington Palace. Naturally, the paparazzi have been hot on their heels — hiding in fields and wooded areas surrounding the red brick home, following the family as they drive away from the home, using sophisticated surveillance equipment and child decoys to engage Prince George at local playgrounds.
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Concerned for the safety of their 5-month-old daughter and 2-year-old son — the latter who they claim is the paparazzi’s “number one target” — the couple issued a statement in August warning that legal action would be taken against U.K. publications that run unauthorized family photos. “The Duke and Duchess are of course very fortunate to have private homes where photographers cannot capture images of their children,” read the statement, in part. “But they feel strongly that both Prince George and Princess Charlotte should not grow up exclusively behind palace gates and in walled gardens. They want both children to be free to play in public and semi-public spaces with other children without being photographed.”
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Anmer Hall, the country home of Kate Middleton and Prince William and their two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. (Photo: Getty Images)
The new call to action dictates that planes and drones cannot fly within 1.5 miles of Anmer Hall. As part of the agreement, supported by the Department of Transport, a similar aircraft ban will come into effect for Sandringham Estate each year from December to March. Exempt aircraft include Prince William’s employer the East Anglian Air Ambulance and the queen’s helicopter.
The royal children’s impact on the British economy is staggering — it was estimated that the births of Charlotte and George boosted shopping sales by $107,373,000 and $378,910,350, respectively. However, according to CNN royal expert Victoria Arbiter, royal kids have always been a security risk. “When Prince William and Prince Harry were children, they were also pursued relentlessly by the press,” she tells Yahoo Parenting. “But today the Internet and social media provide a 24-hour news cycle, which in turn stimulates a global demand for these children.”
The perimeter of Anmer Hall, where photographers may have hidden to take photos of Prince George and Princess Charlotte. (Photo: Getty Images)
What’s more, Arbiter points out, is that, due to royal police protection and the threat of legal action if unauthorized photos are published in the U.K., the British paparazzi often have to employ sneaky tactics, which can boost the value of a photo.
William and Kate are a private yet progressive royal couple — in July they allowed fans gathered outside Charlotte’s baptism ceremony to take selfies despite a public photography ban during royal services. And they work regularly with the press, releasing a steady stream of family photos to sate public demand. However, Arbiter points out that William and Kate are realistic. “They know that their children will never have normal lives,” she says. “Their goal is to create a healthy balance between serving the public and being good parents.”
(Top photo: Getty Images)
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