Prince William And Kate Middleton 'To Be Given Country Home By The Queen'

Previous reports suggested that Prince William was going to surprise Kate Middleton with a country house for her 31st birthday, however it's now been revealed that the Queen is actually planning to give the Royal couple the home ahead of the Royal baby's birth.

A London residence is already being prepared for the couple, but The Telegraph now reports that the Queen is also planning to hand over one of the most charming properties in her portfolio - Anmer Hall in Norfolk, where William spent many days during his childhood.

“The house has been earmarked for William and Kate,” said a source on the Sandringham estate.

The Duke often visited the late-Georgian property, which is one and a half miles away from the Queen’s residence, Sandringham House, when it was leased by Hugh and Emilie van Cutsem, who are close friends of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

It's been suggested for a while that the Duke and Duchess were looking to get a pad of their own where they could escape from everything.

"They've talked about getting a place where they can get away from it all," a source informed Look magazine. 

Kate & William are looking for somewhere to 'escape' (Photo: WENN)

"And now Wills has narrowed down the list to a few incredible places in Hampshire and Buckinghamshire around the £5 million mark. They don't want to be too close to London as they are already based in Kensington Palace."

The house in question has been part of the Sandringham estate since 1898 and was the country retreat of the Duke and Duchess of Kent.

Kate and William are also snapped enjoying country pursuits, with the then Kate Middleton being photographed perfecting her shooting technique at Birkhall, Prince Charles’s private residence on the Queen’s Balmoral estate, in 2011.

Her parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, were given shooting lessons when they stayed at Birkhall in 2010.

Last summer, a royal aide said: “There has been speculation about the Duke and Duchess having a house built, but there are no plans for that at all.”

The couple will move into their London residence at Kensington Palace this summer. Apartment 1A, which is being renovated, was previously home to Princess Margaret.

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