EXCLUSIVE
By Jane Seymour, Royal Editor
The Queen is the latest wealthy Londoner to want a second home on the Suffolk coast, it has emerged.
She went on a secret trip last week to view properties in posh Aldeburgh and Thorpeness, including the wacky House in the Clouds – even though it is not for sale.
She was spotted by local resident Norman Quest, who said: “She had a good nose about and was particularly taken with the House in the Clouds, but was disappointed to learn it is not even on the market.”
The Royal couple were driven around by security men in a black Range Rover as they toured several properties in nearby Aldeburgh.
A Royal insider said: “They want a second home on the Suffolk coast but have not yet put any offers in. She thought the House in the Clouds was lovely, but it’s not on the market, and she would probably have struggled with all the stairs anyway.”
Aldeburgh is a haven for well-heeled Londoners, with most of the resort’s properties being owned by people from Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea. They all drive Range Rovers so the Royals would blend in seamlessly.
But not everyone is happy. Resident Frank Smith, 72, said: “These Londoners are just sending the prices sky high. Local young people cannot afford to buy a home in their own towns. Something needs to be done.”
