The reason Carole and Michael Middleton had to sell their £1.3 million village home
Carole and Michael Middleton had to sell their £1.3 million many years ago
Carole and Michael Middleton had to sell their £1.3 million home back in 2012 because of this bittersweet reason.
- The Princess of Wales's parents live in Bucklebury, a small village in Berkshire.
- The family moved in 2012, and the decision behind their big move has been revealed by inside sources.
- In other royal news, Sophie Wessex's 'super private' second wedding dress had a romantic detail that will blow your mind.
When the Princess of Wales was simply known at Kate Middleton, she grew up in Berkshire with her parents, Carole and Michael. The family lived in a property named Oak Acre in Bucklebury from 1995 - when Kate was just 13 - until 2012, the year after Catherine married into the Royal Family following her wedding to Prince William in 2011.
Hello! reported that the reason the Middleton family decided to move away from Oak Acre, their family home where they raised their children, was because of the new security risk they faced as family members to a royal.
Hello! reported, "Her [Catherine's] parents decided to upgrade to the £ 4.7 million Bucklebury Manor after they deemed it to not be private enough."
The Middleton's moved from the six-bedroom property, Oak Acre House which has an estimated worth of £1 - 1.6 million (according to Zoopla) to the much larger seven-bedroom home, Bucklebury Manor which is currently estimated to be worth £4.5 - 5 million. It is thought that Bucklebury Manor is a more private and less overlooked property as opposed to Oak Acre House which had a few public access points, and could have left the Middletons vulnerable to the press given their daughter's new royal status.
It is thought that Prince George spent the first few months of his life in Bucklebury Manor, after Kate made the decision to spend more time around her family for support during her pregnancy. Catherine suffered from a condition known as hyperemesis gravidarum which can be extremely debilitating and in certain cases life-threatening as it causes unrelenting nausea and vomiting for pregnant women.
Following her first child's birth, Kate decided to stay in Bucklebury for a little longer and it was revealed that Carole Middleton played a 'crucial' role in soothing Kate Middleton's parenting fears.
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
Channel 5’s royal correspondent Simon Vigar said in True Royalty’s documentary, Kate Middleton: Heir We Go Again, "Carole is very involved in the upbringing of George and looking after her eldest daughter Kate when she was ill with this extreme morning sickness. For many weeks, Kate was at home in Berkshire with mum and dad and Grandma Middleton was taking up the strain."
Despite having all adult children who have their own partners and have moved out of Bucklebury Manor, the home is still a key place for the Middleton children, and the youngest Middleton daughter decided to have her wedding on her parent's expansive grounds. Pippa Middleton tied the knot with James Matthews in 2017 and the couple held their reception in a huge glass greenhouse that was erected in the grounds at Bucklebury Manor.
Laura is the Entertainment Editor for woman&home who primarily covers television, film, and celebrity news. Laura loves drinking and eating and can often be found trying to get reservations at London's trendiest restaurants. When she's not wining and dining, Laura can also be found travelling, baking, and hiking with her dog.
-
Victoria Beckham's 'rich blackberry' gown designed to 'flatter and enhance the body' is the epitome of midnight luxury
VB's deep blue gown is the glam winter's night out piece we've been dreaming of
By Caitlin Elliott Published
-
The £10 moisturiser celebrities swear by for it's deceptively luxe and hydrating formula is now on sale
This affordable and versatile cream is a must-have in any winter skincare routine...
By Sennen Prickett Published
-
Kate Middleton looks radiant in laid-back jeans, shirt and blazer in momentous birthday photograph
The Princess of Wales's off-duty style is every bit as elegant as her formal-wear and her birthday photo outfit is so easy to recreate
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate Middleton’s 43rd birthday marked with heartfelt message from Prince William alongside new black-and-white photo
Prince William lovingly paid tribute to the Princess of Wales's 'remarkable' strength as he shared a touching birthday post
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate Middleton 'needs to make sure' George, Charlotte and Louis can 'deal' with 'looming' responsibility
A huge future lies ahead for the Wales family and a royal expert believes the Princess of Wales will be keen to 'prioritise' her family
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Meghan Markle embraces Kate Middleton’s royal hobby in new Netflix trailer - and you might not have noticed
Meghan Markle's new Netflix series will show her trying out one of the Royal Family's favourite but rarely-seen hobbies
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate Middleton has loved the Longchamp tote bag since the 2000s – and we’ve found the perfect lookalikes
For the woman on the go who doesn't want to choose between fashion and function, there's the Longchamp Tote (or these lookalikes!)
By Jack Slater Published
-
Looking for a Boxing Day saving with the royal stamp of approval? Kate Middleton’s favourite Jo Malone scent is now on sale
It's not too often one can snap up the Princess of Wales approved Jo Malone scent
By Jack Slater Published
-
Kate Middleton sticks to her tried and tested formula for a perfect Christmas Day look – her outfit details in full
The Princess of Wales looked striking in a festive forest green for the 2024 Sandringham Walkabout
By Jack Slater Published
-
What do the royals eat on Christmas Day? The mouth-watering festive meals Prince William and Kate will enjoy
The Prince and Princess of Wales and the other royals are in for a treat this Christmas Day if their food traditions remain unchanged
By Emma Shacklock Published