Former Middleton family home under the hammer

The childhood home of Kate Middleton is to be sold at auction

THE childhood home of Kate Middleton, the daughter of a Chapel Row family who is set to marry Prince William later this month, is to be sold at auction.

Pangbourne estate agents Dudley Singleton and Daughter have been instructed to sell the property, West View, in Bradfield Southend, now a genuine slice of royal memorabilia, at public auction on Friday, June 3.

Miss Middleton lived in the house for 13 years with her parents Michael and Carol Middleton, who bought the home in 1979 when Mr Middleton was a pilot and Mrs Middleton was an air stewardess.

Dudley Singleton and Daughter sold the house in 1995 and Mr Singleton said at the time Miss Middleton was at that time engrossed in her GCSEs.

“She was a happy, bright, young lady with a natural charm and ease about her,” he said.

The outbuilding in the rear garden is still in existence, which was converted by the family to use as an office when they created their business, Party Pieces.

Mr Singleton said the timing of the sale would ensure maximum publicity for the property, and his firm had already been contacted by national media outlets not just in the UK but from the USA too.

“Certainly West View will continue to excite interest from people of all nationalities across the world and will become part of history as Kate Middleton's childhood home and I am quite sure there will be interested purchasers for West View, not just as a very pretty country home, but also as a fine investment with royal connections,” he added.

With an asking price of £495,000 the home is considerably more expensive than the more traditional Royal Wedding collectables of tea-towels and mugs.

The wedding between Kate Middleton and Prince William is to take place on April 29.

Many events including street parties and outdoor gatherings are to be held across the district in celebration.