Entering Windsor Castle no longer free for Advantage Card holders

Windsor Castle will no longer be free to enter for Advantage Card-holders from Windsor after a change in policy.

The Royal Collection Trust, which manages the public opening of the official residences of The King, has reviewed its pricing, starting next month.

From June 1, Royal Borough residents will need to pay 50 per cent of the ticket price rather than enjoying unlimited access to the royal residence.

Alongside the 50 per cent discount there will be free entry for one child up to the age of 17 per paying adult.

But for a family of four, visiting regularly, costs ‘would soon add up,’ said Windsor councillors in opposition to the change.

Many consider free entry to Windsor Castle to be a perk of living in the area and ‘fair exchange for welcoming the world to Windsor,’ they said.

Among the objectors are the Lib Dem Windsor councillors Amy and Julian Tisi – cabinet member for Windsor and a Windsor Parliamentary candidate, respectively.

Cllr Amy Tisi said: “I am shocked that the free entry offer has been withdrawn for residents without consultation.

“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."

She said that she and the leader of the council, Simon Werner, have written to the Royal Collection Trust ‘to ask for an urgent meeting and to ask them to change their mind.’

Cllr Julian Tisi added: “Windsor, and specifically the castle, is visited by millions of people from around the world.

“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.

“In return, we get to live and work near one of the most iconic buildings in the world – and visit when we choose.”

He wants the Royal Collection to meet with him and the council to ‘come to an arrangement that makes business sense but still gives free access to the castle for residents.’

Jack Rankin, the Conservative candidate for Windsor constituency, also spoke against the change.

“The town and the Castle have a symbiotic relationship. We are proud of the Castle and our Royal connection, but there is a burden to be shared. Windsor welcomes over a million tourists a year and that brings a certain amount of traffic and disruption to the town," he said.

Leader of RBWM, Simon Werner, said the scrapping of free entry for Advantage Card holders 'really affects Maidenhead residents as well'.

"There probably isn't a parent in Maidenhead who hasn't used it," he said.

A Royal Collection Trust spokesperson said: “We regularly review our pricing against other organisations in the sector and based on this, updated our current Advantage Card offer 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.

“Current initiatives [include] 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.”

Income generated from admissions to the Castle contributes directly to the Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity.

The aims of the Trust are the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, and ‘the promotion of access and enjoyment’ through exhibitions, publications, loans and educational programmes.