Speculation surrounds the property-buying intentions of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Could Kate and Wills be planning to be the new owners of Old Hayward, a Grade II listed farmhouse near Hungerford, in Berkshire, parts of which date back to the 17th century? Or are these rumours mostly inspired by this country seat’s proximity to Kate’s parents’ house in Bucklebury?
For those who prefer some certainty in their property gossip, however, we can bring you the tale of the sale of a home with proven royal connections. Marsh & Parsons, the estate agents, are selling a third-floor, three-bedroom flat in Coleherne Court, a mansion block in Earls Court, London, for £2,495,000. There is a lift, 24-hour security and access to communal gardens. As Peter Rollings, of Marsh & Parsons, puts it : “The place ticks all the boxes.” If you are now thinking that there’s a link somewhere with William’s mother, you would be right. For this is the address at which the late Diana, Princess of Wales lived, in a similar-sized flat, from 1978 to early 1981. She was then employed at a nursery school but made a little extra by renting out rooms to friends at No 60.
Pictures of Diana in pie-crust-frill blouse and cardi, scurrying from the door of the block pursued by the paparazzi, are some of the most memorable images of that era. Had she lived, she would today be celebrating her 50th birthday. But this sale is not only a reminder of the life and times of the late Princess, but also an illustration of the direction of prices of homes in the centre of the capital.
Diana purchased the flat for £50,000 — £224,000 in today’s money. She sold it in 1987 for £185,000. Subsequently, this location — the Little Boltons — became even more popular with bankers and film stars. As a result, flats at Coleherne Court have changed hands at prices between £1.1 million and £2.7 million in the past 12 months. This is despite the lack of a white-stucco façade, a feature usually on the wish list of those who reside in this neighbourhoood. Coleherne Court is a no-nonsense red-brick edifice, built in 1901 when flats could be rented for £130 a year, about £10,900 in today’s money. Renting a three-bedroom flat now would set you back about £62,400 a year.