Middleton house goes under the hammer today

If you have £495,000 kicking about you can start the bidding on Kate Middleton's childhood home at auction today (Friday)

ROYAL memorabilia collectors take note: the childhood home of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is to be sold at auction later today (Friday).

Pangbourne estate agents Dudley Singleton and Daughter are selling the property, West View, in Bradfield Southend, with bids starting at £495,000.

Prior to her marriage to Prince William, Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge, lived in the house for 13 years with her parents Michael and Carol Middleton. They bought the home in 1979 when Mr Middleton was a pilot and Mrs Middleton was an air stewardess.

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.

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

“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.