Fit for a King: Five B.C. homes that could work for Meghan and Harry
Credit to Author: David Carrigg| Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2020 04:24:29 +0000
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and baby Archie are based on Vancouver Island at the moment, coming to terms with life outside the Royal fold.
On Sunday, the Duke (Harry) laid bare his feelings about leaving the Royal family and his hopes it would lead to less tabloid attention on his young family.
“Our hope was to continue serving the queen, the Commonwealth and my military associations without public funding. Sadly that wasn’t possible,” the prince, the sixth-in-line to the throne, told members of his Sentebale charity.
“I’ve accepted this knowing it doesn’t change who I am, or how committed I am. But I hope that helps you understand what it had come to, that I would step back from all I have ever known to take a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life.”
The peaceful life is a tricky one with the British tabloids already dispatching crews to the Sussex’s rental property in North Saanich, followed by reports the once Royal couple were planning to move to Kitsilano (the Point Grey Road part of Kitsilano) sometime soon.
If indeed Meghan and Harry are planning to have a British Columbian base, here’s five properties for sale that could work.
The pool at the back of 1233 Tecumseh Avenue, Vancouver.
This is the most expensive property for sale in B.C. right now so is definitely worth a look for the couple. It’s in First Shaughnessy, the traditional seat of power for Vancouver’s rich, after being developed by Canadian Pacific Railway for its executives back when Vancouver was a railroad town.
This 12,400 square foot home was built in 1922 but has been stripped to the bones and rebuilt to include all sorts of probably unneeded things like an indoor Koi aquarium and an “enormous Cognac Cellar”.
What is does have going for it is that the home has been completely rewired and set up for a state-of-the art security system. And the lot is pretty big also, to keep the paparazzi at bay. This is a major concern for Harry, who resents the British press deeply for what they did to his mom and are starting to do to his wife.
The Koi room at 1233 Tecumseh Avenue in Vancouver.
One of the views from 277 Thurlow Street in Coal Harbour.
Nothing says Vancouver like a $40 million condo.
This offering is actually two suites comprising 6,670 square feet on the whole floor of the Three Harbour Green development, and would provide a good level of privacy for Meghan and Harry. Though it has lots of glass, so a photographer could easily book a suite in one of the towers nearby and take photos. An illegal act, but certainly not out of the realm of possibility.
If the family is looking for a Vancouver pied-à-terre, while spending time in Britain and Los Angeles, this could work — assuming the $3,400 monthly maintenance fee covers a high level of security. The annual property taxes on this one are $56,500 a year, and rising.
The kitchen at 277 Thurlow Street in Vancouver
This home at 4788 Belmont Avenue has good privacy.
It’s funny how value for money goes, as this less expensive property deep in Vancouver’s westside is a much better fit for the Sussexes than the two others mentioned above. It certainly has a Royal feel to it — at least the old French royalty feel of the Palace of Versailles — and offers a larger lot with greater chance to keep prying eyes away.
This 10,000 square foot home features a “long crescent driveway”, Italian marble floors, massive indoor pool and a penthouse suite. Built in 2000, it has five fireplaces and eight bathrooms, but will cost $127,000 a year just in property taxes. Curiously, its assessed value as of July 1, 2019, was just under $19 million. So if the Sussexes bargain they wont be paying $33 million.
The hot-tub is not too big at 4788 Belmont Avenue, but good enough for sure.
4552 192 Street, Surrey
Meghan and Harry lived for a while last year in a rental property in a rural enclave called The Costwolds — 90 minutes from London. This is where they were while their Royal home in Windsor was being renovated (the couple must repay the renovation costs as part of their split deal with the Royal family) and they were well respected by the locals, similar to what’s happening in North Saanich, where neighbours and businesses are leaving them the hell alone.
As Surrey is a very British word, and they don’t mind living outside of the city, this 11,000 square foot home on 77 acres of rural land could work — and the property taxes are only $11,500 a year.
The very regal looking bathroom at 4552 192 Street, Surrey.
This Salt Spring Island home would work well for Meghan and Harry.
I’m not sure what the Sussex budget will be for a home, but this one boasts “majesty-inspiring views” and is on five acres on an island known for giving people time and space man.
The property is on the southern part of Salt Spring Island, half way between Long Harbour and Fulford Harbour. The home itself is 6,400 square feet and is dubbed “castle-like”, so that’s another bonus, with a turret roof. It has space to entertain large numbers of guests, a large pond with dock, and a gazebo and guest suite. But only has one fireplace, darn.
The Salt Spring Island property even has a suite for the in-laws to stay.
with Reuters files