Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Latest Move Proves They Are Stepping Forward in the Royal Family Line of Succession
Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William have split their time between two residences for most of their marriage. The couple lives in Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace with their three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. They’ve also made a lot of memories at their country home, Anmer Hall. Especially during the pandemic.
But now the focus has turned back to the palace. According to a new report, William and Kate’s latest move proves they are stepping forward in the royal family line of succession.
Prince William and Kate Middleton live next to a number of other royals
Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace is actually a four-story mansion that features 20 rooms. It’s one of many apartments on palace grounds. And William and Kate have had a number of neighbors over the years.
Kensington Palace residents include the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, and the Duke and Duchess of Kent. William and Kate also had Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank as neighbors for a while. After they tied the knot, they moved into Ivy Cottage on palace grounds.
But, Eugenie and Jack relocated to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor late last year ahead of the birth of their son August.
Who will move in?
With Eugenie and Jack’s apartment at the palace now vacant, Hello! Magazine reports that William and Kate will get new neighbors. The speculation is that Princess Eugenie’s older sister, Princess Beatrice, could be the next royal to live at Ivy Cottage.
Beatrice currently lives in a three-bedroom apartment at St. James’s Palace with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. The couple doesn’t have any children of their own yet. But, Mozzi has a four-year-old son named Christopher, known as “Wolfie”, from his previous relationship with American architect Dara Huang.
No matter who moves into Ivy Cottage, it will definitely be a member of the royal family. It is a “grace and favor property.” Which means that Ivy Cottage is owned by the Crown Estate and is passed between monarchs.
Prince William and Kate Middleton are making so major renovations
The latest move from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge proves that they are ready to move forward in the royal family’s line of succession. According to Express, once Prince Charles ascends to the throne, William and Kate are expected to move into Kensington Palace on a permanent basis.
The couple has already had renovation plans drawn up, and they are expected to take the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales when Charles becomes king.
“The royal couple will be expected to move. The future Prince and Princess of Wales will have to move their family into Kensington Palace full-time,” royal expert Natalie Rankin explained. “The Palace will become their new home base and center of operations. This is where all their royal duties will be handled from.”
The basement renovations are massive
Rankin says that William and Kate have already started to prepare for their move by renovating a two-story, 16,000 square foot basement. She also noted that the “basement even has skylights.”
She says that the renovations are being done so that the palace apartments can be freed up for the royal family, while staff relocates to the basement. These renovations have actually been in the works for quite some time.
They made an exception for Prince William and Kate Middleton
The planning application was submitted in 2017 for a huge two-story basement at Kensington Palace. Kensington and Chelsea Council approved the extension to the building, which was built in the 18th century. It will incorporate two floors below ground and one above, and will house offices for 100 staff members.
As a rule, the council doesn’t allow two-story extensions like what William and Kate have planned. But, it appears an exception was made for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
