We’re finding out more details about Duchess Kate’s delivery of Prince George, as well as some gossip and rumors about possible godparents and where little George is going to be spending his first year. While Kate, William and George are camped out at Carole and Michael Middleton’s estate in Bucklebury for the time being, it’s believed that they will be moving into their more official digs this fall. The million-dollar-plus renovation (taxpayer paid) of their Kensington Palace apartment will be completed in a few months, and a new report indicates that they will likely be moving into their “country house” soon enough too. Months ago, the Queen “gave” them Anmer Hall, a cottage/mansion on the grounds of Sandringham. But Anmer Hall already had a tenant, so the Queen just paid him off:
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are preparing to move into their new country bolthole with baby son Prince George in a matter of months, MailOnline can reveal. It is understood that the Queen has paid the current tenant of Anmer Hall in Norfolk a ‘generous’ settlement to vacate the property as soon as possible, four years before his lease is up.
The 10-bedroom Georgian property is situated on the monarch’s private estate at Sandringham and has been lived in by company director James Everett and his family for 13 years. He also runs his bespoke timber company, Norfolk Oak, from its stables. However the magnificent mansion has now been earmarked by William and Kate as second home for their family. The couple are already renovating another 20-room home in Kensington Palace to serve as their primary Londonresidence, which has so far cost taxpayers £1.1 million in building costs.
Last night a member of Mr Everett’s staff confirmed to the Mail that the family had already started moving out of Anmer Hall ahead of their lease, which had not been due to end until March 2017. His business is also in the process of relocating to new premises at nearby RAF West Raynham. But they declined to comment on how much his landlord, the Queen, compensated Mr Everett to leave.
The news coincides not just with the birth of William and Kate’s first baby on Monday, but also the end of William’s current job as a Search and Rescue pilot based at RAF Valley in Anglesey. One possibility is that he could transfer to fly with 22 Squadron B Flight at nearby RAF Wattisham in Suffolk, where his brother Prince Harry is also based with the Army Air Corps, using the new Norfolk home as a base. But it is more likely he will transfer back to London for a new office-based role with the Household Cavalry.
Either way, dozens of specially trained armed police officers are now being recruited to guard Anmer Hall on a rolling 24 hour, seven day a week basis, in line with other royal properties. Norfolk Police confirmed to the Mail this week that they are looking to beef up the security capability around the Queen’s Sandringham Estate, on which the house is situated.
I’ve heard rumors about the new security precautions being taken at the Middleton property too, but I would be interested in knowing just how upgraded William and Kate’s security is these days, with the baby, as opposed to before George was born.
As for the birth… The Mail had a lengthy article (which you can read here) all about Kate’s delivery of Prince George. The basic gist is that sources claim that four midwives monitored Kate in the room while several doctors watched her “behind glass”. They also say she gave birth without any painkillers throughout the 11 hour labor.
As for godparents… I think the obvious choices would be William and Kate’s Best Man and Maid of Honor, correct? Prince Harry and Pippa Middleton. Baby George’s christening will take place in the fall, and traditionally the royal babies are given six godparents, or three sets of two. So… Pippa and Harry will definitely make the final cut, don’t you think? People Magazine has a list of other contenders – you can read the list here. The list includes Sophie Wessex (wife of Prince Edward), Zara Tindall (I cosign this, she’s tight with William), Tiggy Legge-Bourke (William’s former nanny), and James Middleton. Oh, and William has a ton of posh dude friends who could be godfather contenders too.
Last thing – Dodgy Uncle Gary has finally spoken! He went completely dark around the time of the birth, but I guess he got permission to speak.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
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