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British RoyalsPrince & Princess of Wales

Anger over Royal Wedding gate posts in Bucklebury

A pair of wooden gate posts installed in The Duchess of Cambridge’s home village of Bucklebury in Berkshire have been labelled as an “eyesore” by the small village’s residents.

The 8ft tall posts have caused lots of controversy with Kate’s former neighbours, resulting in one person calling for them to be “ripped down and turned into firewood.”

The sculptures were erected at the entrance to Bucklebury after the royal wedding in 2011, despite Kate and her parents moving out of the village soon after.

The design of the posts was chosen by Lord of the Manor, Willie Hartley-Russell, who decided on topping the design with two large acorns.

There have been calls for the sculptures to be torn down and turned into firewood.

One resident said: “That is what should probably be done, chop them down and burn them. Whatever next? Are they going to erect a toll station there and charge us to get into the village? They’re pretty big things as well, not just a small statue, for example.”

There have also been suggestions that the giant acorns do not fit in with the village or its history.

However, Willie Hartley-Russell has leaped to the defence of the posts.

He said: “First of all, they are gate posts and the estate had to ask for planning permission from the local authority and the parish council for them to be installed.

“That was a number of years ago and to my knowledge no one raised any objection to them at the time.

“I feel they are a fitting commemoration of the Royal Wedding in 2011.

“Until then the main thing we had done to commemorate the wedding was some mugs, and this felt like a more appropriate and permanent gesture.

“After all, it is not every day that you have a member of your community marry the heir to the throne.

“I have seen and inspected them. In my view they are smart, enhance the area and – this is the key point – I feel they are a fitting, suitable commemoration of the royal wedding.

“At no point did we set out to upset people with these posts.

“They were made by a local artist who is both talented and well respected. I am very pleased with them.”

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