THE motel, which was later referred to as “the Palace in Alice” reportedly had horses tied to the surrounding fence and no poolside furniture. But it was good enough for Diana and Charles on March 20 after the area’s glamourous casino resort – which originally made the itinerary – was damaged in a monsoon.
While Diana and Charles were given the only two suites of the hotel during their stay – valued at $117 each – Kate and Wills will be ‘glamping’ at Longitude 131 in one of the $1100 per night luxury tents. The couple can dine under the stars and wake up to the sun rising over Australia’s red centre.
They won’t be paying any visits the Gap Motor Hotel in Alice Springs though, which was turned into an apartment block of 48 units 14 months ago under the National Rent Affordability Scheme.
But the two suites inhabited by the late Princess Di and Prince Charles haven’t been forgotten.
The front doors of both apartments are decorated with plaques. One stating, ‘The Residence of Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales in March 1983’ is now lived in by a New Zealand family of six.
The other, named ‘Lady Di’s’ is now home to apartment block managers, Michael and Danielle English, their daughter Gabby and two grandchildren. And how does it feel to live in a one royal residence? “You feel good about it, especially living in Lady Di’s because she was such a lovely person. We’ve still even got the lounge. It’s about 21-years-old and still in good knick,” Danielle said.
The signs at the Gap Motor Hotel.
But royal excitement hasn’t flowed into the town as it’s a four-hour drive from Uluru.
“It would be nice if they did surprise us and visit,” Danielle said.
Royal duties aside, the evening at Longitude 131 will be a romantic one for the couple. It will be the only night in the Australian tour that the new parents will spend without their eight-month-old.
Prince George will be residing at Government House in Canberra with his nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo.
On Tuesday, his parents will visit the National Indigenous Training Academy and have afternoon tea with The Chief Minister of the Northern Territory at the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre café. They will walk the base of Uluru just before sunset.
