Princess Anne's London flat only cost £1.3K a month, but it came with many problems

The first place Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence called home as newlyweds was a rather unexpected choice: a two-bedroom flat in Pimlico Central London.

Drake House on Dolphin Square

Contrary to what many may believe, Princess Anne hasn’t always lived in luxurious mansions and Palaces. After marrying Sir Timothy Laurence, the couple moved into a two-bedroom flat in central London.

The bedroom, which Princess Anne and Timothy shared, featured high ceilings and was decorated in a neutral cream. The only touch of colour is a funky pink tassel lampshade. The second bedroom, also cream, was furnished much the same, with an added desk under the window.

The living room was also of neutral cream, with large windows allowing plenty of natural light. According to Express, the room was furnished with a green velvet sofa, pink cushions, a rocking chair, and a wooden and glass coffee table arranged around a fireplace. Through an open archway was the dining room.

In the middle of the dining room was a small square table with just two chairs. An island unit separated the dining room from the kitchen. The small but functional kitchen was fitted with white cupboards and appliances with grey countertops.

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Relocating to Buckingham Palace

The flat overlooked the busy Grosvenor Road, which was a contributing factor to Princess Anne and Timothy Laurence leaving the property after only living there for a few months. Another reason for the Princess Royal and her new husband’s sudden relocation to Buckingham Palace was the reportedly ‘nosey neighbours’.

The pair reportedly paid £1,300 a month in rent to stay in this less-than-luxurious apartment.

Princess Anne previously described the flat as having ‘nosey neighbours and noisy traffic’. As one can imagine, the flat was a far cry from what the Royal has been accustomed to, living in places like Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace or her Gloucester home of Gatcombe Park.

Sources used:

- Express: Princess Anne lived in Pimlico flat as a newlywed - but was subject to 'nosey neighbours'

- My London: Royal Family: Princess Anne's surprisingly ordinary London flat she was forced to move out of because of her nosey neighbours

- Hello: Why Princess Anne disliked her first marital home – and left after a few months

- Gloucestershire Live: Inside Princess Anne's 'noisy' first flat in London's Dolphin Square