Get orf one’s lawn! Travellers decamp from the Long Walk at Windsor Castle overnight after dozens of police and royal officials convinced them to leave the ‘Queen’s front garden’… but not before posing up for a memento snap
- Travellers parked vehicles and up to 30 caravans and motorhomes outside famous Windsor Castle yesterday
- Castle is widely regarded as Queen’s favourite royal residence and the one in which she is currently staying
- Last night, officials launched a concerted attempt to shift the travellers – as pictures showed police at the site
- Two cars were seen parked at the entrance to the grounds in an apparent attempt to put off anyone returning
- Instead, the group decamped and moved to nearby Hanover Way in Windsor, locals told MailOnline
Travellers have decamped from the Long Walk at Windsor Castle overnight after dozens of police and royal officials convinced them to leave the ‘Queen’s front garden’.
The group parked up to 30 caravans and motorhomes outside the famous castle yesterday – widely regarded as the Queen’s favourite royal residence and the one in which she is currently staying.
Last night, officials launched a concerted attempt to shift the travellers – as pictures showed police, council officials and Windsor Park wardens all in discussions with the group.
And their efforts appear to have been a success, with the grounds empty of the Queen’s uninvited neighbours today.
Two cars were seen parked at the entrance to the grounds, with one marked as a ‘warden’ – in an apparent attempt to put off anyone who might want to return.
Instead, the group moved to nearby Hanover Way in Windsor, locals told MailOnline – with police issuing Code of Conduct notices to those remaining there overnight.
Their rushed dispersal from the iconic castle grounds comes as another traveller group who took over an affluent west London park voluntarily left hours before an eviction notice could be served forcing them to leave.
The 12 caravans and cars that had first pitched up on Kew Green on Thursday – angering nearby neighbours living in £2million homes – finally left last night.
Legal representatives from Richmond Council have now been granted a three month order banning travellers from returning to the site.
YESTERDAY vs TODAY: Travellers have decamped from the Long Walk at Windsor Castle overnight after dozens of police and royal officials convinced them to leave the ‘Queen’s front garden’
The grounds are empty of the Queen’s uninvited neighbours today. Pictured: The Long Walk is nearly deserted
Two cars were seen parked at the entrance to the grounds today, with one marked as a ‘warden’ (pictured)
The group moved to nearby Hanover Way in Windsor, locals told MailOnline – with police issuing Code of Conduct notices to those remaining there overnight
A group of travellers – including children – were seen posing for photographers at the Windsor camp yesterday
The group parked vehicles and up to 30 caravans and motorhomes outside famous Windsor Castle yesterday (pictured) – widely regarded as the Queen’s favourite royal residence and the one in which she is currently staying
Last night, officials launched an attempt to move the travellers on, with pictures showing police, council officials and Windsor Park wardens (pictured) all in discussions with the group
Officials and park wardens earlier turned up at the site to try and move the travellers on after they arrived there on Tuesday
The group parked their vehicles near signs which show the area in which vehicles are ‘prohibited’. Pictures showed the group were blocking the Long Walk – a famous tourist attraction
The 2.6mile track connects Windsor Castle with Snow Hill in Windsor Great Park and is still used by the royal carriages every year as part of the route from Windsor Castle to the Ascot Races
The group was made up of up to 30 caravans and motorhomes according to those at Windsor Great Park on Tuesday
Police earlier arrived at the Long Walk to talk to the travellers who arrived at the famous site at Windsor Great Park
In Windsor yesterday, vans and motorhomes were parked near signs which state that vehicles are ‘prohibited’, while pictures showed the group blocking off the Long Walk almost entirely.
The 2.6mile track – a popular tourist attraction – connects Windsor Castle with Snow Hill in Windsor Great Park.
It is still used by the royal carriages every year as part of the route from Windsor Castle to the Ascot Races.
Prince Andrew was seen driving through the camp in his Range Rover yesterday – seemingly unperturbed by his new neighbours. The Duke of York lives with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, 61, in Royal Lodge on Windsor’s grounds.
One person who earlier saw the group said they were ‘absolutely stunned’ at how they had parked their vehicles on the Long Walk.
Much of the 2,000 hectare royal estate is open to the public free of charge from dusk until dawn.
While the Queen has spent much of her time at Windsor Castle during the pandemic – including after the death of husband Prince Philip in April – she is believed have left for Balmoral earlier this month to privately mourn the consort’s death.
Their rushed dispersal from the iconic castle grounds comes as another traveller group who took over an affluent west London park voluntarily left hours before an eviction notice could be served forcing them to leave. Pictured: A graphic shows how different Kew Green in west London looks today, compared to yesterday, following the travellers’ departure last night
A group of travellers who took over an affluent west London park voluntarily left hours before an eviction notice could be served forcing them to leave
But she has since returned to the residence. The royal standard – the flag which when flown indicates that the Queen is present – was yesterday seen flying above the Berkshire castle.
And while at Windsor on Tuesday, the monarch took part at a virtual audience at Buckingham Palace to receive His Excellency Dr Zalmai Rassoul, Ambassador from Afghanistan.
A council spokesman said there was no damage to the green and rubbish left behind had been removed.
Local residents expressed their relief – and urged the council to keep the banning order in place.
Josie Allen, 56, said: ‘We are lucky there is no damage. I am pleased they’ve gone and do not want to see them back.’
A local shopkeeper said youths from the group had stolen from her convenience store and there were reports of youths fighting.
Meanwhile, the travellers claimed they had been abused by motorists stuck in traffic on Kew Bridge.
The council was granted an order of possession by the High Court on Monday evening.
The 12 caravans and cars that had first pitched up on Kew Green on Thursday, angering nearby neighbours living in £2m homes, finally left last night
Legal representatives from Richmond Council have now been granted a three month order banning travellers from returning to the site
Rubbish left behind after a group of travellers spent the bank holiday weekend on Kew Green in west London
A council spokesman said there was no damage to the green in the affluent west London park and that rubbish left behind had been removed
Walkers returned to the park this morning after the group of travellers, which included 12 caravans, finally departed
Kew Green looked almost entirely deserted this morning following the departure of the group last night
A council spokesman said: ‘A group of travellers who have been on Kew Green since Thursday have left the site, after swift legal action from Richmond Council resulted in a High Court decision to give the Council powers to evict them.
‘The travellers voluntarily left yesterday evening (Tuesday) and Council officers were on site immediately to inspect for damage. The group left some bags of rubbish, which Council contractors cleared early this morning. No damage has been caused to the site.
‘Although the travellers have now left, the Council will still serve the Order of Possession today, which is valid for three months.’
Cllr Julia Neden-Watts, Chair of the Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports Committee, added: ‘Thanks to our prompt action last week we were able to get a court hearing as soon as possible after the Bank Holiday, which has resulted in a Possession Order and the traveller group voluntarily leaving the site before we were required to evict them.
‘In this instance we did not have the same power we have had in recent years, following a High Court order earlier this month which denied the Council’s request to extend the previous expedited injunction process.
‘We moved as quickly as legally possible to ensure that the travellers could be moved on from Kew Green and we hope that this swift action deters this group from returning and others from coming to the borough.
‘I would like to thank Police, our Parkguard officers and our cleansing team who have been on site since Thursday to monitor the site and clear any waste left in the area.’
Travellers who took over an affluent park in West London were due to be forced out after the local council took its five-day battle to remove them to the High Court
A woman stands on the phone next to a collection of bin bags after travellers left a huge amount of rubbish over the weekend
Despite being asked to move on Friday, the group showed no signs of leaving as they walked around the site earlier today
A young man driving a BMW on the site has a chat with another as the council steps up its efforts to remove the group
A number of vehicles remain on the site, but local authority chiefs are confident of successfully evicting the travellers today
Three men enjoy a smoke as the pressure mounted following the group’s arrival in the affluent park late last week
The travellers arrived last Thursday afternoon, and as soon as the council were notified, officers visited to conduct welfare checks and site assessment and request they move on. The group, however, did not co-operate.
The council issued a legal notice of the hearing date on Saturday morning. Unfortunately, the group continued to refuse to leave.
Security guards had been patrolling the green which is just an eight-minute walk from popular attraction Kew Gardens and is surrounded by properties valued at an average of £2million each.
Police were also monitoring the situation after complaints from local residents that a local alleyway was being used as a toilet.
One bare chested man among the group said earlier this week: ‘We will leave when we want.’
Groups of bare chested men were yesterday seen soaking up the sun drinking cans as children cycled on the green.
Families had opened car doors on vehicles parked next to their caravans to use as makeshift washing lines.
There were piles of rubbish bags placed neatly by the bins with very little litter strewn across the green.
A man and a woman at the site yesterday, despite the growing efforts from council chiefs to evict the group of travellers
A traveller’s car performs donuts (pictured left and right) in the middle of the affluent west London park
Legal representatives from Richmond Council are this afternoon seeking a court order for their eviction from Kew Green, where the group have upset neighbours over the bank holiday weekend
The council has promised to repair any damage to the green as well as dispose of dozens of black rubbish sacks
The order is almost certain to be approved, with a local authority spokesman saying: ‘How much time the group have to leave depends on the court’
Neighbours are upset with the amount of rubbish that has been left by the travellers since they first arrived on Thursday
A woman folds a pram over the grass yesterday as the travellers continue to stay on Kew Green in Richmond, West London
A group of men gather on Kew Green in West London yesterday as the travellers refuse to leave amid a stand-off with the council
Travellers continue to stay on the site at Kew Green in West London yesterday as Richmond Council tries to evict them
Local residents said yesterday how they hoped the eviction – were it to come to that – would go smoothly.
One told MailOnline: ‘We just want them gone. What gives them the right to take over the Green?
‘Fortunately there has been no trouble but they will not be taking their rubbish with them so someone has to pay to clear that up.’
The council has promised to repair any damage to the green as well as dispose of dozens of black rubbish sacks.
Residents in the upmarket neighbourhood who would normally be enjoying picnics in the warm weather say they have been forced instead to remain indoors over the weekend.
Security guards who had been patrolling the green kept a low profile ahead of the court hearing.
One local said she caught a teenager from the traveller camp trying to steal her neigbour’s vintage Triumph motorcycle.
Sophie Hunter, 51, said: ‘I caught the lad sitting on the bike and trying to walk it away down the road.
‘I shouted out to him and told him that he couldn’t do that and he tried to argue that it was his motorbike. It was only when I started trying to film him that he got off.
‘I called the police but they didn’t send an officer down and haven’t called me back. In fact the police have been scarce since the travellers arrived last week. It’s caused a lot of upset locally because on a day such as this you’d get people sitting on the green, families would play games and have picnics.
‘But the travellers have ringed the space with their caravans and are very intimidating. A few of them have given a friend of mine some verbals for asking them to turn their generators off.
‘It’s a shame because it’s the nicest weekend weather we’ve had in quite some time. Apparently a few people have used an alley between some of the houses as a toilet and a few of the kids have been seen going through people’s allotments.
‘I have to say I’ve avoided going on the green altogether, I usually walk my dogs across there but I’ve taken the long way around today. I’m worried there might be broken glass on the grass from where they’ve been drinking out of bottles and I don’t want the dogs’ feet to be cut.
‘This is a conservation area and to get anything past planning from Richmond council takes a miracle…unless you turn up mob handed and plonk a load of caravans in the heart of the community.’
A woman walks on the grass at Kew Green in West London yesterday as the travellers continue to stay on the site
A girl pushes a baby in a pram at Kew Green in West London yesterday as the travellers continue to stay in the area
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Two shirtless men walk on the grass at Kew Green in West London yesterday as the travellers continue to stay at the site
A security guard patrols Kew Green yesterday as Richmond Council continues to try to evict the travellers from the site
A man holds a mug as he talks to other men gathered on the picturesque Kew Green in West London yesterday
The travellers are pictured yesterday having set up camp in the affluent West London park over the bank holiday weekend
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