David Rose/PA via AP ImagesKate Middleton isn't just the Duchess of Cambridge, she's also a domestic diva, and apparently, one kitchen isn't enough for the royal cooking queen!
During an annual briefing held yesterday in London, it was revealed that Prince William and his wife have added a second kitchen to their Kensington Palace apartment. The couple's home already has an existing 350-square-foot kitchen, designed by Princess Margaret's husband, Lord Snowden, which, according to the Daily Mail, was refurbished to the tune of approximately $290,000 (paid for by taxpayers).
The basic cost for the new area, which will be reconfigured from an existed office space in order to create a "private family kitchen," will come out of the "public purse" although officials stressed that the couple will pay for their new kitchen, including all "fixtures and fixings."
So how do they plan to afford the expensive renovations on their 4-story, 20-room pad, which already includes two living rooms, an elevator, a guest bedroom, three principal bathrooms, nine bedrooms on the top floor for staff and a basement level with a gym, laundry quarters and a luggage room? With a little help from Prince Charles, of course!
When asked whether the Prince of Wales would lend his son and daughter-in-law a bit of financial assistance, a Clarence spokesperson said, "Many young couples when doing up houses seek help from their parents or grandparents. There may have been some assistance."
Meanwhile, the cost of Prince William and Kate Middleton's renovations on their far-from-humble abode—which they moved into in October 2013—have quickly crept up to a staggering $6.6 million.
A spokesperson for the royal couple confirmed the higher price tag, explaining: "This is the Duke and Duchess' one and only official residence. It is here that they plan to stay for many, many years to come. They were also at pains to ensure that the specification is not extravagant."