Prince William And Kate Poach Housekeeper From Queen

Prince William and wife Kate may have almost unlimited funds at their disposal to find the right housekeeper, but in the end they simply poached one from the Queen.

Although the young couple, who are expecting their first child in July, placed an advert looking for household help in January, they decided to stick close to home and have hired one of the Queen’s top three housemaids.

Italian, Antonella Fresolone, has 13 years experience at Buckingham Palace and has been appointed William and Kate’s new housekeeper. She will oversee the running of their Kensington Palace apartment once refurbishments are completed.

Fresolone, 42, is single with no children, began her new job two weeks ago. She has reportedly moved into a staff apartment near to Nottingham Cottage where the Royal couple are currently staying until they move into their new London home.

The new housekeeper is apparently also a great cook who, funnily enough, is a dab hand at “delicious Italian cooking,” according to the Express.

“The queen will have given it her blessing,” a source told the Express.

“She does not like to stop people progressing through the ranks and will be happy that William and Kate have someone they can trust.”

According to the advert placed by William, 30, and Kate, 31, they were looking for someone with a “high standard of housekeeping” who could ensure that “all areas of the residence are cleaned and maintained to a high standard at all times.”

The job comes with an approximately $35,000 salary and duties include a spot of dog-handling. Fresolone will reportedly be required to mind the couple’s dog Lupo, a cocker spaniel.

With Kate’s birth date looming ever closer, the couple will be moving full-time from their post April 2011 wedding home in Anglesey, Wales, into what was the former home of the Queen’s sister, the late Princess Margaret.

And when their baby does make its an appearance, he or she will have a lullaby of their own. UK composer Paul Mealor, 37, who also composed music for the couple’s wedding has written a lullaby called “Sleep On.”

“After writing music for the Royal Wedding,” said Mealor.”It seemed natural to provide the musical accompaniment for the next stage of the royal couple’s journey together.”

Vocals were provided by the hugely successful Brit classical crossover artist Hayley Westenra, who is including the lullaby on her new album Hushabye.

“Paul and I got together to work on a song called ‘Sleep On’ in honor of William and Kate’s new arrival as it’s such a joyous occasion which we can all celebrate,” Westenra revealed.

Only a few months to go.

[Image via Featureflash / Shutterstock.com]