Prince William and Kate have always fiercely guarded their children's privacy and now that the family are moving from the countryside to central London, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are as keen as ever to protect their son Prince George and their daughter Princess Charlotte. A team of gardeners has been busy planting native conifer trees alongside Kensington Palace so that Prince William and Kate's home will be shielded from prying eyes. The family will relocate from their Norfolk mansion in time for George to start school in the autumn.
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Royal sources have told HELLO! that the trees are being planted for reasons of "privacy and security". The conifers, which can grow to a height of more than 40ft, will create an 820-ft long wall along the western side of the palace, where William and Kate's residence, Apartment 1A, is located. The giant hedge will help to block the view from Kensington Palace Gardens, a private road that is home to some of London's wealthiest residents.
Prince William and Kate have always fiercely guarded their children's privacy
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Last month it was announced that the Duke and Duchess and their children, George, three, and 21-month-old Charlotte, will be leaving Anmer Hall in Norfolk to make Kensington Palace their main residence. It coincides with William leaving his job as a helicopter pilot at East Anglian Air Ambulance so he can fulfil more royal duties. George, meanwhile, is expected to start at a junior school not far from the palace.
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Trees are being planted alongside the palace for reasons of "privacy and security"
William and Kate have been living in Norfolk since 2015. The Duke took precautions to ensure his family's privacy, securing permission to re-route the driveway and to set up a no-fly zone around the ten-bedroom Georgian mansion. Back in London, Kensington Palace has also warned photographers against taking pictures on the estate. The palace said: "The warm-hearted and understandable interest in the royal family and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge needs to be balanced with their right to a private family life. This is especially important for a family with very young children."