The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; Photo Credit: Reuters
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will probably move into Princess Margaret‘s old apartments in Kensington Palace by the middle of 2013, say palace officials. But, in order to make Apartment 1A’s 20 rooms inhabitable again, which haven’t been lived in since the Queen’s sister died in 2002, £1 million worth of renovations will need to take place.
Besides redecorating the rooms, which are mostly painted in pink and turquoise (Princess Margaret’s favorite colors), new plumbing, electric wiring, and asbestos removal will be necessary, says the Daily Mail.
Where will the money come from? A mix of public grants and contributions from the Royal Family’s own fortune.
A spokesman for the Palace said: “The extent of the work needed to turn the apartment back into a home is not yet known, but it is expected that it will not be ready for occupation until at least the middle of 2013.”
Photo via princess-diana-remembered.com
In addition, a senior aid told the Mail that procuring the apartments for the royals use has not been an easy process: “There have been months of discussions and a lot of legal work in order for Princess Margaret’s apartment to be transferred back to the Royal Household.”
Princess Diana’s old apartments were a consideration, but William and Kate ultimately decided they liked the old apartments of Princess Margaret, a source told The Mail on Sunday:
“They did look around Diana’s home where William grew up, but they both felt there were too many memories there. Kate thought it would be too creepy. But she absolutely adored Princess Margaret’s house and thought it had a lot of potential. It hasn’t been an easy process, though, and there was a degree of difficulty getting the apartment back to the Royal Household so that it could be given to William and Kate.”
“William and Kate visited Apartment 1A and loved it,” said the source.
“Kate particularly adored the private walled garden because she loves gardening, and she just thought the house has so much potential.”
Photo of Apartment 1A Garden from gda-design.blogspot.com
Photo of Apartment 1A Garden from gda-design.blogspot.com
“She also liked the fact it was so close to Kensington High Street. They had seen a state apartment at St James’s Palace, which they also rather liked, but they both agreed they wanted to live at Kensington Palace.”
According to the Mail, the apartments include: a dining room, drawing room, Lord Snowdon’s former study, Princess Margaret’s garden room, extensive staff quarters and a nursery.
