The Prince and Princess of Wales are reportedly making a big change at one of their royal residences.
The Crown Estate is reportedly upgrading the “outdated” security near Prince William and Kate’s home in Kensington Palace, according to the Daily Mail.
The estate is said to be asking for planning permission to install temporary vehicle barriers outside the palace. They’re also hoping to introduce longer-term measures for “hostile vehicle mitigation”, the paper said.
The couple still retain their London base, the 20-room Apartment 1A at the palace, despite moving to Windsor in 2022. It’s their city base when they need it for visits to the capital.
The property has been undergoing several changes in recent months, including restoration works on the iconic golden gates outside the palace.
Prince William and Kate’s royal homes
At the start of their married life, William and Kate moved to Anglesey in Wales while the Prince worked as an RAF Valley search and rescue pilot. Nottingham Cottage was their London base at this point.
The royal couple moved into Apartment 1A in 2013. It has a deceiving name, as the “apartment” actually consists of 20 different rooms, including five reception rooms, three main bedrooms, and separate staff quarters. From 2015 to 2017, they lived at Anmer Hall in Norfolk.
After leaving London in 2022, the couple lived at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor.
They now live in “forever home” Forest Lodge, also in Windsor, a Grade II-listed Georgian home with eight bedrooms, with their three children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight.
© GettyEarlier this month, it was revealed that Prince William is paying £307,500 in rent on the property, despite other members of the royal family paying “peppercorn rent” on their large homes.
Royal security
Some royals get around-the-clock security from Scotland Yard funded by the taxpayer. They include King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and the Princess of Wales, alongside their three children.
Working royals Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie do not have full-time security but get guarded when they’re working, such as on official engagements.
© Getty ImagesAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor lost his right to state-funded security when he stepped down from royal duties in 2019.
Prince Harry has faced an ongoing battle over his security arrangements since stepping down as a working royal with wife Meghan Markle in 2020.
He has said the decision to remove his security means he feels he cannot bring his family to the UK safely.
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