KATE & WILLS’ £10 BASEMENT
Taxpayers dig deep for royals
WILLS and Kate are planning a basement at their London home which could cost the taxpayer up to £10million.
The extension would provide office space for staff, freeing up rooms for other royals.
The news comes just months after the Cambridges’ Kensington Palace flat underwent an £85,000 renovation.
William, 34, and Kate, 35, have been living in Norfolk while the work is carried out.
They are planning to return to Apartment 1A this summer.
Their central London home already has 22 rooms and two kitchens for the couple and their children Prince George, three, and one-year-old Princess Charlotte.
The improvements include two new reception rooms, one overlooking the JOE HINTON rose garden which is set to be used for entertaining. But documents reveal new plans to extend the residence even further, by digging a two-storey conversion beneath the Orangery.
There will also be a level above ground to provide space for 100 staff.
Architects say that at an estimated cost of £4,000 per sq m, the total bill could be as much as £10million.
The planning application submitted by Historic Royal Palaces reads: “The addition of a basement storey is required to allow for the accommodation of administration which must necessarily be moved out of rooms leased from the Royal Household in Kensington Palace.” The estate is already crowded with royals including Prince Harry, 32, who has a bachelor pad at Nottingham Cottage.
Princess Eugenie, 26, is planning to move in to nearby Ivy Cottage with nightclub owner Jack Brooksbank.
A new trend has seen the rich and famous dig down to create more space in their London homes.
Two-storey developments have been banned by Kensington and Chelsea Council.
But according to documents, it is “willing to make an exception” for the royal family.
Kensington Palace was built in 1605 before being updated by architect Sir Christopher Wren.