Queen upsets locals at Sandringham estate by building half-mile 'eyesore' kerb to stop cars parking on roadside
by James Gant For Mailonline- Her Royal Highness, 94, had 1,000m kerb erected along the drive at the royal estate near King's Lynn, Norfolk
- The foot-high mound has prevented visitors from parking their cars along grass verge near the stately home
- There are two car parks for visiting tourists, but they cost £3 for two hours, £5 for four hours and £7 for a day
- The earth bank was started in the autumn near St Mary Magdalene church, which the Queen regularly visits
The Queen has upset locals at Sandringham by building a half-mile 'eyesore' earth bank to stop cars parking on the roadside.
Her Royal Highness, 94, had the 1,000m kerb erected at the royal estate near King's Lynn in Norfolk.
The foot-high mound has prevented visitors from parking along the grass verge near the stately home.
There are two car parks for tourists visiting the grounds, but they cost £3 for two hours, £5 for four hours and £7 for a day.
The earth bank was started in the autumn near St Mary Magdalene church, which the Queen regularly visits.
James Bullmore, who lives nearby, told the Sun: 'The mud kerbs along the side of the road look awful. They are a complete eyesore.
'There is mud all over the verges and it really ruins the lovely views up the leafy road to the estate.'
The mounds, known as bunds, were present in February and had grass growing over them. It coincided with the announcement that the estate planned to charge drivers for using its previously free car parks.
It is believed the Queen's staff had feared a big increase in the number of cars being left on verges, due to drivers trying to avoid the charges.
The mounds present an obvious barrier to most cars which have forced the drivers toward the two official car parks.
Regular visitors to the estate furiously protested about the parking charges when they were introduced and accused the Monarch of profiteering from her subjects.
But many people used to park on the grass verges, so they could easily access walks in the woodland or enjoy picnics beside their cars.
Diggers were used to created the bunds on the verges either side of a 200-yard stretch of the road near St Mary Magdalene church.
They are similar to mounds of earth piled up alongside field in other parts of the country to keep out travellers from the land.
The estate announced last October car parking charges were to be introduced as part of a re-development of visitor facilities.
Anyone paying for admission to the museum, gardens or house when they are open during the summer months can avoid paying if they give their car registration number to staff at the ticket office.
Annual tickets costing £40 will also be available, offering unlimited parking and free admission to Sandringham House for the holder.
The estate said in October that it was 'politely encouraging' visitors to use the designated parking areas as opposed to the grass verges, which form part of the landscape.
A Sandringham spokesman said: 'The project is all about keeping this a safe place to visit.'
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have not been at Sandringham since the start of the coronavirus crisis as they isolate at Windsor Castle in Berkshire.
Her Majesty has been passing the time by riding her fell pony across Home Park on the estate.
Head groom Terry Pendry ensures her ponies are ready and he keeps two metres from his boss.
All protective disinfectant measures are taken, particularly for the horse's saddle and bridle.
The monarch's ride of choice is a black pony called Carltonlima Emma, named after the stud near Leeds where she was bred.
A team of 22 staff are working to provide a protective shield around Elizabeth and Prince Philip, which Windsor Castle colleagues are calling 'HMS Bubble'.
It includes her favourite page Paul Whybrew, who co-starred in her James Bond skit for the London Olympics Opening Ceremony, and chefs, cleaners and officials.
Led by master of the household Tony Johnstone-Burt and the queen's private secretary, Edward Young, the team have willingly agreed to live away from their own families for the duration of the lockdown.
It means they can serve the monarch and her husband – who moved to Windsor from Sandringham, where he has lived for the past few years – without needing protective equipment such as gloves and masks, or to abide by social-distancing guidelines.