Here's why the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's neighbours have complained

Guess they won’t be popping around for a cup of tea anytime soon…

Guess they won’t be popping around for a cup of tea anytime soon…

It was announced earlier this year that Kate Middleton and Prince William are moving to London, uprooting from their current Norfolk Country home with Prince George and Princess Charlotte to settle for the long term in Kensington Palace.

A statement was released in January about the move:

‘Their Royal Highnesses love their time in Norfolk and it will continue to be their home. From this autumn, however, the Duke and Duchess will increasingly base their family at Kensington Palace. As they have in recent years, their royal Highnesses are keen to continue to increase their official work on behalf of the Queen and for the charities and causes they support, which will require greater time spent in London.’

While the news was originally met by extreme excitement, it looks like the reality has officially sunk in for Kate Middleton and Prince William' future neighbours, who have seemingly discovered the downside of living so close to the royal family.

(Image credit: REX)

Proving that no amount of royalty exempts you from neighbourly squabbles, the issue taken by locals surrounds planning permission, with the royal couple hoping to make a few changes to Kensington Palace before they move in.

The current plans for the extension will see a two-floor basement built under the Orangery to give their staff more room, and according to The Sun, is likely to cost a whopping £24 million.

Unfortunately for the royals, their request has not gone down well, with fourteen residents already complaining, taking specific issue with the disturbances the extension will cause and its potentially harmful effects on the surrounding wildlife and trees.

Kensington Palace have since released a statement:

‘Our plans have been very carefully considered and developed in consultation with stakeholders including the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and Historic England.

As a conservation charity, our priority is to ensure that the new building is sympathetically designed to respect the Grade I Listed Orangery and its historic setting.

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The Orangery is not in a residential neighbourhood and the completed development will not affect other properties in the area.’

Jenny Proudfoot
Features Editor

Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. She has worked at Marie Claire UK for seven years, rising from intern to Features Editor and is now the most published Marie Claire writer of all time. She was made a 30 under 30 award-winner last year and named a rising star in journalism by the Professional Publishers Association.