Kensington Palace and Other Royal Residences Shut Down Due to Storm Bert Risks
Kensington Palace, once the full-time residence of Prince William and Kate Middleton, is temporarily closed to the public as safety concerns mount due to Storm Bert. Buckingham Palace has issued a statement addressing the risks posed to several royal properties.
"Due to Storm Bert, there are a number of closures across our sites on Sunday, 24 November," read the announcement shared on X, formerly Twitter. "Kensington Palace is closed today - please see our website for more on the gardens at Hampton Court Palace and Hillsborough Castle."
The Prince and Princess of Wales, who now use Kensington Palace as an office base after relocating to Windsor’s Adelaide Cottage, are unaffected by the closures. However, their former residence is among multiple sites impacted, including Hampton Court Palace gardens and Hillsborough Castle gardens in Northern Ireland.
When a user noted delays in updating the official website, Historic Royal Palaces, the charity overseeing public access to royal properties, assured, "We are on the case!" They also confirmed that Home Park and Hampton Court Palace gardens are closed, with Hillsborough Castle gardens potentially affected.
The announcement follows reports from the BBC that Storm Bert has flooded over 300 properties across the UK and claimed at least five lives. Royal residences have not escaped unscathed, with widespread disruption highlighting the severity of the storm's impact.
This update comes just days after another alarming incident, where two masked men broke into Windsor Castle’s grounds, smashing a gate frequently used by William and Kate. The intruders attempted to steal farm vehicles, raising questions about the security of royal properties amid ongoing challenges.
