The Telegraph today reports that William and Kate will move into Kensington Palace within a few weeks, making a "small property" at the palace their London base on a temporary basis until a suitable larger London property becomes available. Their main home will remain the small farmhouse near William's job, and their Household Offices will remain at St. Jameses.
The article says their new KP home will NOT be Diana's former apartments, as those are currently in use as offices. I wonder which apartment have been offered them? Margaret's was handed over to HRP and is open to the public, the Glouchesters still occupy the one just west of that one, and the Michaels of Kent still have the one next door to Diana's old one.
And I wonder what options are on the table for the "larger permanent London base?" The article suggested that the Queen had offered the couple an apartment at Buckingham Palace, although I'm not sure which one that could be?!? From the floor plans I've seen, and aside from the Belgian guest suite, there are only six royal apartments at BP (The Queen's and Prince Phillip's in the North Wing the Wessex, Princess Royal and York apartments in the East Wing, and one more on the floor directly above Phillip's rooms (The King's Apartments). That last one above Phillip's is the one vacant one as far as I can tell.
By the way, the Princess Royal's London base has always confused me. Is it in BP or St. James? I've heard both - the Monarchy website says her apartments are in St. James, but a few years ago in a televised interview. the Duke of York was leading Merideth Viera on a tour of Buckingham Palace and, as they walked down the Principal Corridor in the East Range, he pointed out the door to the Wessex apartment and the Princess Royal's apartment before reaching his own. Does Anne have two, or has she moved from one to the other?
