So, you’re keen to know where Prince William and Kate Middleton live?
Not just home to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Kensington Palace houses many of the royals. Prince Harry and Meghan live in Nottingham Cottage, a 2 bedroom residence where Harry has lived since before he and Meghan got engaged.
Princess Eugenie lives in Ivy Cottage with her husband James Brooksbank, and it’s also home to the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, The Duke and Duchess of Kent (two of the Queen’s cousins) as well as Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.
So what’s it like living day to day inside Kensington Palace?
You might recognise the gates to Kensington Palace because back in August 1997 they became a veritable flower temple as the British public mourned the death of Princess Diana. The floral tribute spanned 5ft deep.
Today though, it’s the gateway to Kensington Palace which is Prince William’s home and his official Crown residence.
Once the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria, a statue of the Queen guards the stunning entrance.
Before Prince William and Kate Middleton became parents, they lived in Nottingham Cottage (now home to Harry and Meghan), also within Kensington Palace. Knowing they needed more space, Apartment 1A underwent an 18 month renovation at a cost of £4.5million before the Duke and Duchess moved in with Prince George.
It’s not the first time Kensington Palace needed refurbishment. Between 1960 and 1962 apartment 1A underwent an £85 million renovation with the whole interior gutted due to rising damp.
Every floor (bar the attic) was completely gutted and overhauled. The residence was transformed including three principle bedrooms and dressing rooms, three principle bathrooms, the main reception rooms, two nurseries, nine staff bedrooms, four staff bathrooms, two staff kitchens and two staff sitting rooms.
When the Obamas came for dinner on 22 April 2016, Apartment 1A was opened to the press for the first time. Here you can see Michelle and Barack being greeted at the entryway to Prince William’s house by William, Kate and Prince Harry.
If you want to get close to the royals you’ll be delighted to know parts of Kensington Palace have been open to the public since May 1899. However, you won’t get access to their private apartment like the Obamas did.
Just like the rest of us, Prince William and Kate don’t limit their time to one family but spend quality time with both sides, in this case, Michael and Carole Middleton.
Kate’s parents’ home, Bucklebury Manor, sits on 18 acres in Pease Hill, Berkshire. The seven bedroom house has a tennis court and swimming pool. Immediately after the birth of their first child, George, the Prince and Kate spent some time here.
In 2012, one of Kate and William’s first family photos with then-newborn Prince George was taken within the grounds of the Middleton family home with Lupo, the couple’s cocker spaniel and Tilly, the Middleton family’s retriever, claiming their place in the group shot.
As well as their Crown residence, Prince William and Kate have a private property, Anmer Hall, which is a late-Georgian Country house built in the 18th century.
It recently underwent a £1.5 million renovation in 2013-14 with anew roof, new kitchen and extensive tree planting to provide extra privacy for the Duke and Duchess.
Anmer Hall in Norfolk was a wedding gift from the Queen to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. They recently spent part of their August summer holidays at the family home that’s situated within the Queen’s Sandringham Estate.
As second in line to the throne, William has been gifted with a Crown residence and a Private residence and so, nope, he doesn’t pay rent.
When the Queen eventually passes away, Prince Charles will become King of England which will reopen the discussion of who lives where. If Charles were to move into Buckingham Palace (the Queen’s current residence), then William and clan may be relocated into Clarence House (where Charles currently resides).
Until then, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will continue to call Kensington Palace their home.
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