Windsor’s Royal Wedding: When Beggars Turn the Streets Into an Unwanted Stage
Simon Dudley, the top dog of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, spilled the beans on Jan. 3 that the streets might soon feel more like a flea‑market than a royal playground. He’s asked Thames Valley Police to step in and give aggressive begging the boot before Harry’s big day.
Why the Council’s Got a Sticky Situation
- The kingdom’s chowder is the cargo left behind by street ballers—bags, wrappers, a bit of drudgery that could trip up tourists.
- Residents and shop sellers are whispering their concerns, especially with the expected tourist flood when the Prince ties the knot on May 19.
- County powers would take the long route—“wooooo,” he says—so police are the fast‑track heroes we need.
Calling on the Grown‑Ups to Play Safeguard
“I am tossing a safety ball to you,” Dudley wrote, nudging the Thames Valley Police Commissioner Anthony Stansfeld into action. He wants all the money, manpower, and a keen nose to keep the street scene safe and smooth.
Homeless or High‑End Hustlers? The Scoop
Despite the council’s generous couch‑safety plans—night‑shelters that stay open all year, help desks to the rescue—Dudley’s gen‑ius is that most beggars aren’t actually living on the streets. And if they are, it looks like they’ve politely declined every offered lifeline.
He paints a scene: “A patchy, pop‑off vibe that’s a little unnerving for the people of Windsor and, let’s be real, the roughly 7 million global tourists this year.”
Bottom Line
As the royal countdown ticks, Windsor’s local leaders are saying: Let’s nip that beg‑and‐bag chaos in the bud. When Prince Harry weds Meghan, the castle sits, the streets stay neat, and the town keeps its charm.
