Kate Middleton and her double tufts of hair in body sacks, Prince William and porkpie Prince George, have been living in Medieval squalor at their Kensington Palace apartment. With no running water and tons of asbestos infiltrating their happy home, the repairs on the palace are reportedly going to cost UK taxpayers nearly £4 million.
These aren't the first repairs made on the royal trio's abode. Before little man-baby George was born, renovations were made to the tune of £1 million, causing a polite uproar among Brits everywhere.
As Carole Malone wrote in an op-ed last year for The Mirror:
Buck House insists these grand palaces have to be maintained and held in trust for the nation. Really? So when was the last time any of us were invited to any of the private royal residences for tea and a digestive?
Quite! But spokespeople for the upcoming renovations stand by their decision to make the Plebeian people pay for the upkeep of a house they'll never live in.
Via BBC News:
"We also had to take into account the fact that Kensington Palace is a scheduled ancient monument, and all elements of the refurbishment had to be agreed with English Heritage."
"The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge paid privately for all the internal furnishings, including carpets and curtains."
"They were also at pains to ensure that the specification is not extravagant."
Their house was last renovated in 1963 and the official details and costs of the fix-up are to come next week."
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The Royal Family have defended an estimated £4million refurbishment of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's Kensington Palace apartment.
Taxpayers will foot the bill for extensive work on the property, including installing a new roof, overhauling the electrics and carrying out significant plumbing works.
A royal spokesman said repairs and refurbishments would also see a "significant amount of internal building" to "return the residence to function as a living space".
The apartment, which was last refurbished in 1963, was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and was the home of Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon. Margaret remained there after their divorce and lived there until her death in 2002.
From Princess Margaret’s death until the fall of 2012, Apartment 1A was used as office space, classrooms and a temporary display of dresses worn by Princess Diana. After extensive renovations and as of October 2013, it once again serves as the home to the world’s most famous royal couple.
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A royal spokesman said:
"This is the Duke and Duchess's one and only official residence. It is here that they plan to stay for many, many years to come.
"We also had to take into account the fact that Kensington Palace is a scheduled ancient monument, and all elements of the refurbishment had to be agreed with English Heritage. Often this meant ensuring a high standard of work in line with the historical significance of the Christopher Wren building."
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