UPDATE ON REOPEN HAMPTON COURT GARDENS FROM PETER WYLDE

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all of you who signed and supported this petition. Unbelievably, it is just over 4 years since the petition was started by my dear son, Patrick.  For reasons which I am sure you will appreciate it has taken longer than I would have wished to provide this update.  Patrick tragically passed away at the young age of 31 in October 2022 from type 1 diabetes complications.  In 2023 I was approached by two of Patrick’s fellow campaigners, Robert & David, to become involved and step into his shoes which I was very happy to do.  We maintain the petition in Patrick’s name and only recently gained access to change.org hence the delayed update. 

In terms of progress, the initial target of 10,000 signatures was achieved and David, Robert and I delivered the petition (11,711 signatures at the time) to 10 Downing Street on a lovely sunny morning on the 9th October 2025.  To date, there has been no response from No.10 and I will aim provide an update on our plan of action shortly.  

In the earlier stages of the campaign Patrick and Robert met with the senior management of Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) followed up by a second meeting involving myself.  While we had a constructive and sympathetic hearing it was clear HRP were not going to consider reversing their decision on open access. We also wrote to each of the HRP trustees on two occasions to which we did not receive the courtesy of a reply. More positively we had the involvement of a prospective local MP who, initially, was keen to provide support including coverage in her campaigning leaflets. Unfortunately, once elected her interest waned and her earlier expressed wish to be present at the delivery of the petition did not proceed.  Prior to delivering the petition we also arranged a number of locally focussed leafletting campaigns which secured a significant uplift in signatures.

There has been some progress in as much as HRP now open free access to the gardens for a select few days each year but we consider this no substitute for returning the gardens to the general public all year round as had been the case for the previous 180 years courtesy of Queen Victoria.

Thank you again for your support. 

Peter Wylde