James Middleton gives glimpse of Kate's family home as he spends lockdown with their parents
Royal fans have been treated to many glimpses during the coronavirus lockdown of the idyllic Norfolk country home where Prince William and Kate Middleton are raising their children.
Now, the Duchess of Cambridge’s brother James, 33, has given a rare snapshot into her own family’s home - a place the 38-year-old royal frequently visited during her early years of marriage.
The entrepreneur is isolating with fiancée Alizee Thevenet at the picturesque rural residence of his parents, Michael and Carole, in Bucklebury, Berkshire.
Yesterday, he posted a video to Instagram giving his 175,000 followers very good look at a very pretty garden where the Middleton siblings - who also include 36-year-old sister Pippa - are certain to have created many memories in their 20s and 30s.
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James - whose wedding plans have been postponed by the pandemic - told the camera that he was shaving his beard off for the first time in seven years.
He explained: “Seeing as Alizee and myself were due to get married, well actually this month, she’s never seen me without a beard.
“So I thought it was about time I showed her what was behind it.
Captioning the clip, the businessman joked: “I decided to surprise Alizee...”
James filmed himself removing his facial hair with a pair of clippers while sat in the back of a truck, in what appeared to be a driveway, with two of his dogs and neatly-cut hedges in the background.
After entirely removing his beard, he continued: “There we go. So I’m off to go and find Alizee.”
Kate’s younger brother then took viewers round to the back of a house where his 29-year-old French girlfriend was with her future parents-in-law.
They were sat at a wooden table and chairs on a patio area that overlooked a well-kept garden, complete with flower beds and a wheelbarrow.
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Beside them stood their home of Bucklebury Manor - a Georgian, Grade-II listed seven-bedroom property which is nestled in an 18-acre estate.
A pair of open French doors gave those watching a sneak peek at elegant interiors of the place the Middleton family have owned since 2012 - a year after Kate married into the royal family.
It is situated in the same village as the childhood home where the duchess grew up.
The video - which has been viewed more than 140,000 times - was well-received by fans.
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One person wrote: “This is class! Love it!”
Another commented: “Aww love this!! Her reaction is the best.”
A third shared: “Awwwww that’s so funny and sweet!”
Earlier this year, it was revealed James and Alizee had decided to wed at a later date and were said to be “sad” about the turn of events.
They confirmed they had got engaged in October after dating since 2018.
