Royal couple moving into Princess Diana's home
A man's home is his castle. Or in Prince William's case, palace.
Having tied the knot and captured the attention of the world, the newlywed royal is finally getting around to moving out of his parent's house, as he and Kate Middleton have settled on a new home base while in London.
So where are they moving to?
The duo will be setting up shop in one of the apartments of Kensington Palace, the Hyde Park-enclosed home that William and Prince Harry grew up in, as it was the notorious former residence of his late mother Princess Diana.
Not too shabby, as starter homes go.
"The couple's official London residence will temporarily become a property at Kensington Palace," a spokesman for St. James's Palace said.
"A number of options for longer-term solutions are still being considered. The couple's main home will continue to be their house on Anglesey, and their Household Office will continue to be based at St. James's Palace."
The duo was spotted checking out the palace as a possible dwelling back before they tied the knot, with Kate reportedly taking to the grounds—though in fairness, what isn't there to take to? Particularly when you take into account what all new homeowners do: location, location, location. Situated in the fashionably posh Kensington area of London, the palace is literally a stone's throw away from Kensington High Street, home to pretty much every one of Middleton's favorite retailers.
It's unclear when, exactly, moving day will take place, though it will likely occur after or even as the couple is overseas on their Canadian and U.S. tour next month.
Up until now, the couple has been staying at an apartment Wills shares with Harry at Clarence House, the London home of Prince Charles and Camilla. The young couple will still be primarily based at their home in Anglesey, North Wales, until 2013, but will stay on their own at the palace when in London.
However, they might not want to get their stationery printed out just yet, as the palace digs are likely to only be a temporary abode for the couple.
The apartment in which they'll be staying has only two bedrooms, which apparently just won't do. Why not? Well, as their royal duties increase, so too will the demands on their time and (here's the rub) space, with the couple expected to regularly host meetings, entertain VIPs and do all manner of royal things at their home. Add to that the presumption that a family of their own isn't that far away on the horizon, and two bedrooms begins to sound almost unfeasible.
"The property in question at Kensington Palace into which the couple are temporarily moving is small," a spokesman said. "While it more than suffices for occasional visits to London for now, and the royal couple are very grateful for it, the Duke and Duchess are considering options for a more permanent official London residence. No suitable properties are currently available."
Among those potentially suitable properties: apartments at Buckingham Palace, which Queen Elizabeth is said to have offered, and Clarence House.
As it happens, no matter where they go, they'll likely be sharing the pad. Currently, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent all call Kensington Palace home.
Of course, there are other apartments in the palace, including the combined apartments (Nos. 8 and 9) in which Diana lived with Harry and William, into which one imagines they could always expand—particularly after the nearly $20 million refurbishment of the property is completed next year.
When the time for such an expansion comes, that is. Which hopefully won't be too far into the future.
Source:eonline
