HOLKHAM Beach in Norfolk has been visited by the Royal Family for decades and it’s just had an upgrade.
The beach in Norfolk was a favourite holiday spot for the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III and more recently Prince William and Kate Middleton.
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It’s no surprise Holkham has been the best beach location for the royals because it is a 36-minute drive from the Sandringham Estate.
It is also just half an hour from Prince William and Kate’s country home at Anmer Hall.
Anmer Hall was a wedding present to the couple from the late Queen.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis have been seen with their parents building sandcastles on the dunes.
Read More on Norfolk Beaches
In the BBC’s 2016 documentary, Elizabeth at 90: A Family Tribute, a snippet of Charles and Anne playing at the beach together was used.
In the documentary, Charles re-watches some of the home videos and said: “It was always such fun playing hide and seek in those dunes. I remember that so well, isn’t that funny. Vividly.”
It’s not just a royal destination, around one million people around the UK visit Holkham Beach every year.
Holkam Beach is dog-friendly and along the coast, you can explore the pretty seaside town of Wells-next-the-Sea.
Last year, Holkham was included in The Telegraph travel experts’ ranking of the 50 greatest beaches across the globe.
The constant visitors have resulted in wear and tear on the boardwalk linking the beach to Holkham Estate.
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In March of this year, work began to upgrade the boardwalk and a new, wider one has been designed.
The boardwalk reopened over the Easter weekend.
The pathway, which runs from the beach car park through the forest to a viewing platform overlooking the dunes, cost £150,000 to build.
Dr Katy Owen, protected landscapes manager at Norfolk County Council, said: “We want more people to be able to experience the sound of the wind whistling through the pine woods, smell the salty sea air and experience Holkham Bay with as few barriers as possible.”
The boardwalk is wooden but the frame underneath is made from recycled plastic bottles and is expected to last for 75 years.
The new one has been widened to make it more accessible for wheelchair users and families with pushchairs.
Plus, inside the UK island where Prince William and Kate Middleton enjoy taking a holiday.
And the Prince William’s favourite holiday spot that’s a subtropical island.
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