Kate and Prince William have begun renovations on their country retreat, the magnificent 10-bedroom Anmer Hall on the Queen’s Sandringham Estate and the neighbours aren’t happy.
“Garish” red roof tiles replacing the weathered tiles of the 1800s mansion have been described as “vulgar” by locals, who say the royal renovations are taking away from the area’s character, the Mirror reports.
“The building dates back to the early 1800s but it looks more like a cheap Barrat home now,” one disgruntled resident said.
“It’s not an eyesore but it does look completely different.”
The Georgian property’s previous residents had been asked to make way for Kate and William’s young family ahead of the arrival of baby Prince George.
Since moving in, a raft of new security measures have been implemented in and around the property and renovations have commenced.
The couple’s new roof is not the only development that may upset the neighbours, according to a building application plans to relocate the house’s main gates further from the house to ward off stickybeaks and the planting of trees to shield the property from public view are also in place.
Kate and William’s near-complete renovation of their Kensington Palace apartment was also the topic of community outrage with building costs coming in at almost $2 million at taxpayers expense.
The Queen is said to have footed to the bill for the Anmer Hall makeover.
