We mostly know the Royal Family from their public appearances. And these many appearances give us a good idea of what it is like inside the lives of famous figures like Prince William and Kate Middleton.
But here’s the more interesting question: what’s it like inside their homes? In the case of William and Kate, they live inside a massive apartment at Kensington Palace. And we’re here to give you a tour of the home that is good enough for the future King of England!
It truly is massive
What do you imagine when you read the word “apartment?” Most of us think about smaller dwellings where you are likely to bump into many neighbors as you walk through the halls.
However, William and Kate’s “apartment” is more akin to a mansion. It is a four-story building that has 20 rooms inside. In addition to three main bedrooms, the apartment has two nurseries, a gourmet kitchen, five reception rooms, and quarters for the staff to live in.
On top of that, the home features three bathrooms, two living rooms, and a huge basement containing both a gym and a luggage room. And, of course, an elevator to help royals and staff alike navigate this massive home.
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A beautiful entrance
Homes are a bit like people: the first impression is always the one that sticks with you. And William and Kate have made sure that this home’s grand entrance is one you’ll remember.
According to Vogue, the first thing you notice is the “cobbled walkway [which] leads to ivory stone steps and Kate and William’s grand double doors, complete with gold knobs.” There are also white pillars on either side of the black door to add a look of formality.
The couple does have a sense of humor with some of their design choices. Each pillar holds a lamp. And in case you didn’t know who lived in the apartment, each lamp has an adorable red and gold crown!
But what do you see once you open that door? E! News reports, “The entrance hall is beautiful with intricate cornicing and huge black and white flagstones…. There are large open fireplaces in all the main entertaining rooms and lovely big windows overlooking the garden.”
So, with such ornate architecture, how did William and Kate decide to furnish their home?
Kate’s hand-picked decor
Considering that William and Kate have staff living in their home, you might expect that the staff handled most of the decorating. But you’d be wrong: Kate has played a major role in picking the decor from the very beginning!
Back in 2013, E! News noted that “Kate has taken a very personal role” in decorating the home. “She has staff helping her, but she makes some of the calls herself and visited shops. She’s very professional and organized.”
So, what is Kate’s preferred style? For one thing, she loves floral throw pillows. Even a cursory look at photos from the inside of their apartment show these pillows in the drawing room and many other areas.
Despite their wealth and fame, Kate didn’t want the decor to be completely bourgeoise. Instead, the apartment is filled with a mix of high-end and budget items. In fact, ABC News reports that Kate personally visited assorted markets and “haggled for antique things.”
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Private garden
There are plenty of beautiful spaces inside this massive apartment. But when William, Kate, or the kids need a breath of fresh air, they can enjoy their breathtaking private garden.
This walled garden is visible from the main rooms of the home and is very precious to Kate. According to the Daily Mail, “Kate particularly adored the private walled garden because she loves gardening, and she just thought the house [had] so much potential.”
And the family has really made the garden as cozy as possible. There is a comfortable wooden bench for the royals to sit with lovely views of the pergola and the rest of the garden.
Luxurious kitchen
What’s the point of being royalty if you can’t eat like a king? William and Kate certainly think so. According to the Daily Mail, they “spent £170,000 of their own money” to renovate the kitchen on the ground floor of the apartment.
Why is that kitchen so important? In addition to hosting family and friends for meals, Kate herself loves to cook for the family and wanted a top-notch kitchen. From family meals to intimate parties, the kitchen is what makes the house feel like a home.
Of course, a home this massive isn’t limited to a single kitchen. In addition to the renovated ground floor kitchen, there are two additional kitchens. One is for the use of the staff while another is a private kitchen for William and Kate.
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Cozy offices
While places like the fancy kitchen and private garden are fun places to relax, both William and Kate have a fair amount of business to conduct each week. Fortunately, both of them have comfortable offices to work out of.
For William’s office, Vogue reports that the future king has a darkened wooden desk, a traditional lamp, a printer, and a beautiful fireplace. Meanwhile, Hello! reports that Kate has an office with a wooden desk, a wooden chair (complete with striped cushion), and even a complete collection of Penguin Clothbound Classics.
In a home this luxurious, it is interesting to note that the offices are so down-to-earth. When these royals need to work, they like to get right down to business!