Where will the new Royal baby live?
As London echoes to the sound of ceremonial gun salutes, impromptu singing on the streets and the hustle and bustle of crowds outside Buckingham Palace, many people are asking where the new royal baby will live. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Catherine, are still coming to terms with the birth of their son (as yet unnamed) although there is speculation that they are about to complete their move to Kensington Palace.
Royal sources confirmed that the staff of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have already moved to Kensington Palace, which was the subject of a £1 million refit especially to house the newlyweds and their newborn. They are moving into Apartment 1A and while to the general public this may sound like a small flat in a larger property, it is actually a 21 room home within the palace!
What do we know about Kensington Palace?
Kensington Palace is situated in Kensington Gardens in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, the capital of England. Since the 17th century the palace has been the residence of an array of the British Royal family currently taking in the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent with the Duke and Duchess of Kent close by. In perhaps a poignant moment, it is worth remembering that Kensington Palace was the official residence of Diana Princess of Wales who is the late mother of the Duke of Cambridge.
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The history of Kensington Palace goes back to Jacobean times and was formerly known as Nottingham House when it was originally built in 1605. It was joint monarchs William and Mary who acquired Kensington Palace back in the summer of 1689 after searching London for an appropriate property. The purchase price at the time was £20,000 which was an enormous amount of money but it has certainly paid for itself in the long run!
The property itself has an array of original rooms and extensions which are breathtaking, it is part of the history of the Royal family and it also houses an array of priceless artefacts and artwork. Previously, prior to the death of George II in 1760, Kensington Palace was the residence of senior royals although more junior members of the family were invited to live within the palaces’ various apartments and properties after the King’s death.
Poignant moment for Kensington Palace
While Diana Princess of Wales resided in Kensington Palace, and her two sons William and Harry grew up there, if you look back to the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, her coffin spent its last night at the Palace before her funeral on 6 September 1997. There is no doubt that the new addition to the Royal family will live a life of luxury, live in one of the most sought-after properties in London but then again we are talking about the third in line to the throne.
It will be interesting to see whether the new royal family are able to maintain any degree of privacy with the eyes of the worldwide media upon them. Kensington Palace, with its enormous grounds, seems like the perfect hideaway but not before we get that world-famous picture of the new royal family!