Royal Apartment

After meandering around this topic on other threads, I thought I'd start this thread to mix two of my favorite topics - royalty and architecture - and to discuss the apartments and other official accomodations which the royal family occupy.   There is limited information available on this, I find.

Fortunately for me, the British Government's Written Answers to Parliament are public information, and the Parliament seems frequently interested in this topic.  Below is what I've gleaned about the scale of some of the accomodation occupied by the RF.  As it shows, the housing for the younger royals (HM's children) is far more modest than that granted to previous generations!

The Duke of York @ Buckingham Palace
Two bedrooms, a dressing room, a sitting room, a dining room and two bathrooms.

The Earl and Countess of Wesses @ Buckingham Palace
2 bedrooms, 1 sitting room, 1 bathroom (do not form a self contained apartment).

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester @ Kensington
4 principal bedrooms and 7 principal reception rooms, plus 8 staff bedrooms, 4 staff bathrooms, 3 staff reception rooms, 3 kitchens, 2 utility rooms, 1 staff rest room

The Duke and Duchess of Kent @ St. James Palace
4 principal bedrooms, 6 principal reception rooms, plus 4 staff bedrooms, 2 staff bathrooms, 3 kitchens and 1 staff rest room.

Princess Alexandra @ St. James Palace
5 principal bedrooms and 4 principal reception rooms, no staff accomodation

Prince and Princess Michael of Kent @ Kensington
7 principal bedrooms and 9 principal reception rooms, plus 1 staff bedroom, 2 staff bathrooms, 1 staff reception room, 1 kitchen and 2 utility rooms

Any other information on these apartments - pictures, decor, historical info, would be appreciated.

So the Michael Kents and the Gloucesters are the only Royals left at KP?

I may be wrong but I believe The Duke of Gloucester inherited his KP apartment from his mother, Princess Alice of Gloucester via "squatter's rights"

TampaBay

Sounds to me like the Michael Kents have a pretty good thing going at KP; 7 bedrooms and 9 reception rooms isn't a bad show at all......

Am I correct in thinking that the plan eventually is to have no royal residents at KP?

According to our mutual tower of information the Duchess of Dermount, the need for grace and favour staff retirement residences will probably fill the place in the near future.   If anybody listens to what we say, we should insist that the rooms associated so very much with QV and Diana should remain as they existed during their respective lifetimes.

Not bad either, being billetted in grace and favour at KP.....

Sounds to me like the Michael Kents have a pretty good thing going at KP; 7 bedrooms and 9 reception rooms isn't a bad show at all......

Am I correct in thinking that the plan eventually is to have no royal residents at KP?

I would rather live at Kensington Palace than St. James Palace.

TampaBay

According to our mutual tower of information the Duchess of Dermount, the need for grace and favour staff retirement residences will probably fill the place in the near future.   If anybody listens to what we say, we should insist that the rooms associated so very much with QV and Diana should remain as they existed during their respective lifetimes.

You've got half your wish.  QVs apartment (at least 2 rooms of it) are preserved as they were prior to 1837 - Princess Victoria's bedroom and the Duchess of Kent's Dressing Room.  Both are on the top (State) floor on the main (public) side of the palace.  The bulk of their apartments - on the two floors below - have been long since converted into different uses and some house the Royal Dress Collection.  This side of the palace has been opened since the early 20th century, and the last royal resident there (Pss Beatrice) left in the 1940s.

Diana's apartments were in the private side of the palace (along with the Kents, Glouchesters, and late Pss Margaret).  Much of this side is occupied by Royal Household staff.  Diana's apartments were made from two smaller apartments - part has already been converted to staff quarters, while the main rooms still lie empty.  I doubt Diana's rooms will be preserved - in any event, the public couldn't have access to this part of the palace so long as some royals still live there.

I would father live at Kensington Palace than St. James Palace.

TampaBay

I quite agree.  Seems to me that Kensington is a much better place to accomodate the extended royals than St. James.  It has a better setting and views, is set farther back from the road for quietness, and seems to be better suited to moving around rooms / apartments to accomodate the changing needs of its occupants.  I think they should give up St. James and consolidate all the extended royals at Kensington - but it seems that the opposite is more likely.

You've got half your wish.  QVs apartment (at least 2 rooms of it) are preserved as they were prior to 1837 - Princess Victoria's bedroom and the Duchess of Kent's Dressing Room.  Both are on the top (State) floor on the main (public) side of the palace.  The bulk of their apartments - on the two floors below - have been long since converted into different uses and some house the Royal Dress Collection.  This side of the palace has been opened since the early 20th century, and the last royal resident there (Pss Beatrice) left in the 1940s.

I was there in September 2000.  Very much worth seeing especially the dress/clothes collection. KP was not what I expected.

TampaBay

Is not St. James Palace closer to Buck House than KP.  Maybe this is the reason for putting Roylas into St. James Palace.  Also KP is in a high tourist traffic area with little competition from other historic sights "next door" so to speak.

TampaBay

Do the Kents still have an apartment at St. James's Palace?

After all, they no longer live together......

I was there in September 2000.  Very much worth seeing especially the dress/clothes collection. KP was not what I expected.

TampaBay

KP is jolly in it's own small way...one MUST try the crab salade in the Orangery...too fine,M'Dears....

Do the Kents still have an apartment at St. James's Palace?

After all, they no longer live together......

Mixed info on that one - surprise, surprise.  To quote HM's official website.....

The Duke and Duchess live at Wren House, Kensington Palace, and in Oxfordshire.

As you mentioned, the newspapers have reported that the Duchess maintains her own apartment nearby - although such stories usually cite that apartment as being "where she gives music lessons" rather than where she lives.  Who knows for sure?

Where is Wren House?

TampaBay

Where is Wren House?

TampaBay

Wren House apparently adjoins the private block of Kensington Palace - and is named for the architect , not the bird.  I have yet to find any pictures of it.