Kate Middleton Hires Trusted Housekeeper to Help With Baby
Kate Middleton and Prince William have reportedly hired one of Queen Elizabeth's former servants to be their housekeeper in preparation for the baby.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge reportedly hired Antonella Fresolone, who is a 42-year-old Italian maid, to be their housekeeper. The longtime trusted maid will assist the royal couple on the premises of their modest two-bedroom cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace, according to HollywoodLife.com.
In addition to hiring Fresolone, Middleton, 31, and Wills, 30, have also finalized a "humble" baby nursery for their newborn. The Duchess is due to give birth in July.
"They have a small nursery prepped, but it's humble. Kate felt it wasn't worth the money to go all-out," a source close to the couple told Us magazine.
Middleton and Prince William are expected to temporarily move in with her parents, Carole and Michael, for at least the first six weeks after being released from hospital in a move that will break royal tradition. Fresolone is expected to follow.
Instead of hiring a maternity nurse and starting her new life in a royal residence, Middleton will live in her parents' Berkshire estate with her baby, who will be third-in-line to the throne.
"Kate says she 'just feels safest and most secure' with her family and believes that no one could be better placed to teach her about bringing up a baby than her mother, who has three children of her own," Daily Mail royal correspondent Rebecca English reported, quoting an unnamed source.
The Middleton family's Georgian manor is valued at $7 million and based in an affluent rural area. Carole is reportedly in the process of renovating the mansion in preparation for the baby's arrival.
"Carole fully intends to be part of this baby's life and Catherine, for her part, plans to spend a lot of time with her parents, especially while she is waiting for the new apartment to be completed," a source said. "Surely it is no bad thing this little prince or princess is given a taste of life outside of the Royal Family?"
