With only weeks to go until the big date, the talk around the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton has recently turned to life after the wedding. And unlike many couples about to marry across the UK, Will and Kate have the enviable choice of the finest palaces and houses in the realm.
Yet a recent study by Santander Mortages makes mischief by theorising just how the royal couple would survive if they depended solely on their salaries, with no Royal allowances. The results indicate that in today’s tough housing market, a likely option would be a static caravan.
Less than regal
Although Prince William is more accustomed to the opulence of St James’s Palace, he would be forced to set his sights lower if circumstances were changed. His RAF salary of £37,170 is the couple’s only job-based income, as Miss Middleton ceased working for her parent’s party planning company earlier in 2011.
According to Santander this means the couple could only afford a mortgage of £142,246. And a quick scout around the country revealed a range of properties that were described as “less than regal” by the firm.
The Royal Caravan
If the Royal couple stayed in the Windsor area, then a rebuilt static caravan measuring just 50 square feet would be one of the only affordable choices. The caravan has now been turned into a two-bedroom bungalow but space would still be at a premium despite the asking price of £138,000.
Other alternatives include a three-bedroom semi in North Wales with mountain views, or a four-bedroom house in Leeds with access to the M1 for those weekend trips to Buckingham Palace.
However our interest was piqued by another of the survey’s options, namely a parking space in Knightsbridge, Westminster – only a short hop away from the Queen. With an asking price of £135,000 this is clearly a tongue-in-cheek choice. However it does leave plenty of room in the budget for a used touring caravan…
