Bosses of the upcoming Harry Potter television series have constructed a £4 million set in Windsor Great Park, on land near Prince William's home, Forest Lodge. The set includes a half-mile of track for the Hogwarts Express and a replica of Hogsmeade Station, built in woodland about a mile from the lodge.
An insider told The Sun that the creative team wants the show to look as realistic as possible, relying less on CGI than the Harry Potter films. The location was chosen to replicate the Scottish Highlands, and is far enough from the royal residence to avoid disturbance, but close enough for a potential visit.
The set-up may delight Prince William's children, Prince George, 12, and Princess Charlotte, 10, who are reportedly big fans of the franchise. Queen Camilla revealed in 2017 that King Charles reads the books to the youngsters, doing all the voices as he is a brilliant mimic.
Lorries transporting the Hogwarts Express into Windsor Great Park were spotted last week, with the iconic shape visible under tarpaulin. Filming is underway for the HBO series, expected to be released in 2027, 15 years after the final Harry Potter film.
Each series will focus on one novel, delving into more detail than the movies. Warner Bros is reportedly auditioning actors for Lord Voldemort, originally played by Ralph Fiennes. In July, HBO shared a first look at the production, with 11-year-old Dominic McLaughlin cast as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.
