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
asked the current tenant of Anmer Hall in Norfolk 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 London residence, which has so far cost
taxpayers £1.1 million in building costs.
Last
night Mr Everett confirmed to the Mail that the family business had
already started moving out of Anmer Hall ahead of the lease, which had
not been due to end until March 2017.
The business is in the process of relocating to new premises at nearby RAF West Raynham.
But Mr Everett denied that he is receiving compensation from his landlord, the Queen, 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.
It is understood that around forty to fifty
police officers will be involved in the operation, with extra personnel
being sought from both within existing Norfolk police ranks and
outside. It costs at least £100,000 to train and arm each firearms
officer and the cost will be met by taxpayers.A spokesman
for Norfolk police confirmed: ‘Recruitment for additional Authorised
Firearms Officers (AFOs) in Norfolk remains open at this time, to both
internal and external candidates, as we seek to address a current
shortfall in numbers.
‘Our AFOs are required both for normal
policing duties and to support our on-going commitment to the Royal
Estate at Sandringham in the west of the county.’
An insider added: ‘The force needs to train more armed cops as the couple are going to live there sooner rather than later.’
A raft of new security measures have also been approved by the local council,
including the planting of dozens of trees to shield the stunning property from public view.According
to a planning application lodged with King’s Lynn and West Norfolk
Borough Council, an existing wood store will be converted into extra
accommodation – mostly likely for police officers guarding the property –
while a garage block will be transformed into an equipment room.
Other
plans involve moving the main gates to the property further down the
access lane so members of the public will not be able to get so close to
the house.Royal aides have also been given planning
permission to begin extensive improvements including a new garden room
and a pergola made from stone columns with oak beams for plants to trail
through, providing both shade and privacy on the patio area.
These
will be designed by architect Charles Morris, who was behind a
controversial extension for Prince Charles at his own country home.
Council
officers have approved the plans under delegated powers, which means
they did not have to go through the usual council planning process.
Anmer
Hall is one of 150 situated on the monarch’s 20,000-acre Sandringham
Estate in Norfolk and is only two miles east of Sandringham House, one
of her favourite private residences.
The hall, which largely
dates back to 1802, was used as an illicit bolt-hole by Prince Charles
and the then Camilla Parker-Bowles during their long-running affair when
it was rented by the prince’s friend Hugh van Cutsem.
Prince
William, who is close to the van Cutsems’ children, is also said to have
enjoyed many happy visits to the hall as a child.
It also has
something of a royal pedigree having been leased to the Duke and Duchess
of Kent as their country house from 1972 until 1990.
The house,
which has a swimming pool and tennis court, will provide a place where
the young family will be able to entertain and host guests.
It is also close to Holkham beach where Prince George will be able to play as his father and grandfather both did.
The Sandringham Estate has been owned by the Queen since her accession in 1952 and by the Royal Family since 1862.
Although
much of the land is open to the public, the paparazzi are no longer
allowed to photograph the Royal family relaxing there, making it even
more attractive to the Duke and Duchess.A spokesman last
night declined to comment about royal plans for Anmer Hall but stressed
that Kensington Palace would be the Cambridge’s ‘primary and long-term
residence, where they plan to spend the next few decades’.
source : dailymail.com
