Prince William isn’t scared by the idea of a ghost being in his home.
As a wedding present, the late Queen Elizabeth II gave William and Kate Middleton Anmer Hall, which is a mansion located in the Norfolk countryside back in 2011. However, paranormal historian Richard Felix has an old ghost story associated with the house.
In the 11 October episode of the Hello! A Right Royal podcast, Felix talked about the ghost of a Catholic priest who he claimed returned to his former home in Anmer Hall right when the Prince and Princess of Wales moved in.
“When the Prince of Wales and Princess of Wales moved into Anmer Hall, it’s more or less on the Sandringham Estate, there was a ghost there of a Catholic priest that lived there and was hanged, drawn and quartered for high treason, and for some reason, has returned to his home,” the historian said in the podcast episode.
Felix continued: “Although he was executed in York, they’ve actually heard his voice. And they have seen the ghost of what they say is a priest, wandering around Anmer Hall.” He also claimed William and Kate were informed about this belief prior to moving in.
“Before the Waleses moved in, they were warned about the ghost and the comment was, I presume it was from Prince William, he said: ‘No old hall would be complete without a ghost, would it?’” Felix added.
According to the blog Seeking Ghosts, the Catholic priest in question is Henry Walpole, who was the oldest son in the Walpole family and who converted to Catholicism despite the potential repercussions, as the English monarchy starkly opposed the religion at the time.
Walpole went abroad to study and become a Jesuit priest, thinking he could return to Norfolk and preach there without any consequences. However, according to The Tudor Society, he was arrested, before arriving in York where he was hung, drawn, and quartered.
Because he died far away from home, it is said that his spirit made its way back, and people hear Walpole calling every time the wind blows.
Over the years, the royal couple has continued to spend time at Anmer Hall, specifically on holidays and when their three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis – have breaks from school.
William and Kate have previously been seen in Norfolk for Halloween, so there is some speculation that the whole family will be at Anmer Hall this year as well, especially as the children are currently on a school break.
Back in 2019, Kate was seen in a store in the Norfolk area with George and Charlotte browsing the Halloween costume selection. One local woman named Kathy Whittaker spoke to the Daily Mail about seeing her, telling the outlet: “She was with Charlotte and George looking at Halloween outfits but her bodyguard was kind of watching people with phones and telling them no pictures.
“I didn’t see what she actually bought. The lady that told me she was there had children with her and she said Kate was asking her children what they were going to be for Halloween. I think she bought some Halloween bits for her kids but I don’t know what.”
