Royal Apartment

Oh, I would say there is quite a distance between minimalism and whatever label one might apply to dear Princess Michael's Sitting Room.  

Clearing the coffee table might reduce the present appearance of a used book store, however, that would be only a start!  

Covering every inch of every flat surface in a room with a photo, knick-knack or other object is clutter, IMO.  I'm of the opinion that one should be able to actually admire a desk or table for that object's own sake!  

I am with you Chris. My first line of attack would be that desk. Grrr

All right, I'd get rid of a few things on the desk too.

I think you two would be the two-dead-twigs-in-a-vase types.  

A room has to have a bit of character and be surrounded by things you love!

It is all a question of personal taste, though.

Apparently this 'maximalism' is part of the reason why Nether Lypiatt will not sell.   It has been on the market for almost a year.  The Kents have just reduced the price by half a million pounds and now have two prestigious estate agents endeavouring to secure a sale.

The clutter, along with its, rather active, ghosts and a children's riding centre with its attendant noise and smell of frying burgers, onions and chips located just across the road*, all make it a house unattractive to prospective purchasers.

tsaria

*Sunday Times:  Property Supplement:  19 Feb. 2006

PS - Princess Michael's sitting room is awful IMO - clutter, clutter, clutter.....

I can't criticize--my living room doesn't look much better book-wise.  :-/ My mother belongs to Clutterers Anonymous (seriously) and is always giving me handouts (ironic since those create more clutter!) to tell me how to reduce the mess. Maybe I should forward some on to Princess Michael.

Is that the original deLazslo of Princess Nicholas on the wall?

Apparently this 'maximalism' is part of the reason why Nether Lypiatt will not sell.   It has been on the market for almost a year.  The Kents have just reduced the price by half a million pounds and now have two prestigious estate agents endeavouring to secure a sale.

The clutter, along with its, rather active, ghosts and a children's riding centre with its attendant noise and smell of frying burgers, onions and chips located just across the road*, all make it a house unattractive to prospective purchasers.

tsaria

*Sunday Times:  Property Supplement:  19 Feb. 2006

Tsaria?  With the price reduction and the obvious flaws of the property which you have pointed out, would you think that the current asking price (whatever that may be) is a fair one?

I think it is outrageous, but, more importantly, individual estate agents who were asked how a Grade I listed house of this type with 56 acres, eight bedrooms, stable block and an indoor swimming pool, consider it markedly over-priced, even with its 'royal' provenance.   They considered four to four and a half million much more realistic.   They bought the house in 1982 for £350,000.   Marie Christine re-designed the interior and also put in a pool.   There was also work done on the garden.   However, this kind of inflation is scary.  

The stable block is no longer occupied due to the hunting ban.   HRI had plans to convert the barn into a Dower House.   Obviously she is expecting to outlive her husband who, when he reaches the age of 65 in 2007, loses the £125,000 per annum from his cousin, the Queen.   (The weekly old age pension for a couple is around £120 per  week = £6,000 per year.   Should we organise a whip-round?)   Both their children have left home and live in London.   This house is too large for them, so they have decided to size-down.

tsaria

Go on Grace...buy it, then I will come round and put 2 dead twigs in a vase for you for free

The stable block is no longer occupied due to the hunting ban.   HRI had plans to convert the barn into a Dower House.   Obviously she is expecting to outlive her husband who, when he reaches the age of 65 in 2007, loses the £125,000 per annum from his cousin, the Queen.   (The weekly old age pension for a couple is around £120 per  week = £6,000 per year.   Should we organise a whip-round?)   Both their children have left home and live in London.   This house is too large for them, so they have decided to size-down.

tsaria

tsaria,

Why will Prince Michael lose his allowance from QEII in 2007 when he turns 65 yers of age.  This makes no sense to me.  

TampaBay

Go on Grace...buy it, then I will come round and put 2 dead twigs in a vase for you for free

 

tsaria,

Why will Prince Michael lose his allowance from QEII in 2007 when he turns 65 yers of age.  This makes no sense to me.  

TampaBay

I read about this in the newspaper too - and am also confused about why this would happen.  

Prince Michael isn't on the Civil List (his payments are directly from the Queen), and I am really surprised that HM would put a deadline on their allowance.  I mean, Civil List payments are for life, so ever other living member of the RF with the HRH title has a lifetime guaranteed income.

Perhaps this was an agreement made way back in the 70s when the Michael-Kents were married??  

If the above is true,  I do not think it is fair.  Micheal is a member of the Royal family and deserves something.  There must be more to this story.


TampaBay

I am afraid I do not know the facts.   One assumption is that when Prince Michael reaches the age of 65 (retirement age for males in the UK) perhaps a trust fund bites in.

I do not think they will live in penury.   Equally I doubt if the Queen would ever see a close relative depend on state handouts.

On the other hand, should they receive £5,500,000 for Nether Lypiatt, even if there is any residual mortgage to be paid off and a smaller house bought for even as little as £2,500,000 (!), the income from an investment of £3,000,000 - at the very least - would attract an annual income of £150,000, i.e. over $250,000.  

Don't worry Tampa, whatever way, the Kents will not be on the breadline.

tsaria

The world's most famous (infamous) butler has now decided to publish - in one of those British rags - photos of the late Princess of Wales' apartments at Kensington Palace. 

I am torn.  I'm mildly disgusted at Mr. Burrel's continued insistance of rehashing the same tired old stories for his profit.  However, as an avid fan of architecture - and royal residences in particular - I am intrigued by the chance to see photos of the apartments.

I read one of his tabloid articles - in which he verbally "walked around" the apartment, describing the layout in some detail.  For example, I learned that very little of the apartment was on the ground floor.  The front door led down a narrow vaulted corridor to a Entrance Hall (I'm guessing overlooking the interior Prince of Wales' Courtyard) which was flanked by a powder room, butler's pantry and a rather wide staircase.

At the top of the stairs was The Prince of Wales' former study (later the boys' sitting room), and "down a corridor" was a suite of inter-connected reception rooms - Dining Room, Drawing Room and the Princess' Sitting Room.  Then there was the Princess' bedroom, dressing room, L-shaped wardrobe and bathroom.  Finally, there was a small lobby with a narrow staircase leading up to the "nursery" on the attic level (I'm guessing the young princes' playroom, bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.).

I tried to compare Mr. Burrel's written "tour" against the floor plan we have in this thead, to try to determine which rooms are which.  I cannot even figure out the location of the staircase, much less anything else.  I'm wondering - prehaps the floor plans above are too old - rooms may have been completely rearrainged over the years.  But - I'm guessing the staircase hasn't moved - that would simply be too much trouble. 

Does anyone have any knowledge or input on the location of the various rooms?

I know this has been an inactive thread for some time, but does anyone have any idea where Apartment six is located within the palace complex and how many rooms it contains(ed)? Furthermore, I wonder which apartment Toria was allocated by Georgie?