The Royal Wedding : Once a royal’s estate, now a commoner’s home

Once a royal’s estate, now a commoner’s home:

As the clock ticks down toward the day later this month when Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton tie the knot, Royal Wedding mania is reaching epic proportions. The world's middle class isn't the only group keen on owning a bit of royal memorabilia. Some of the world's richest "commoners" have paid tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars for the former

Sunninghill Park, Berkshire, U.K. once owned
by the Duke and Duchess of York
(Tim Graham/Getty Images)

residences of history's royal families.

With a few properties, "commoners" inhabited them before becoming royalty. Such was the case with the 495,000 euros (or more than $806,000) childhood home of England's soon to be newest royal family member, Kate Middleton. The residence will head to a real estate auction this June. Most of the other residences were owned by royals from their beginnings and are palatial multimillion-dollar palaces that only ultra-rich commoners can afford.

The rolling hills of the French Riviera claim a plethora of seaside castles claiming royal lineage. Another common thread these days: billionaire buyers. Roman Abramovich, Russia's ninth-richest man, owns Chateau de la Croe, once home to King Edward VIII of Great Britain, the Duke of Windsor. Abramovich reportedly purchased the estate in 2004 for as much as 30 million euros, or about $45 million.

Just what royal lineage does to the value of an estate is difficult to pinpoint. Much like celebrity ownership, a royal history will differentiate a property from others of similar caliber. As Connolly notes, if two properties are closely comparable, the one with an imperial background will often times snag the sale. That said, the price tag has more to do with the location and quality of the property itself.

There are also some modern royal residences for sale, including two American homes formerly owned by members of the Saudi royal family. In 2007 Prince Bandar bin Sultan sold off the guest quarters of his sprawling Hala Ranch in Aspen, Colo. That guesthouse fetched $36.5 million and is now back on the market for $40 million, having been re-labeled the Star Mountain Ranch.

The Bradbury, Calif., estate where late Saudi Prince Ahmed bin Salmon kept his prized race horses, as well as a quarter track to train them, sold to an unknown buyer for $6.5 million in 2005. It has graced the Multiple Listing Services on and off since then, with an asking price of $8.5 million.

Another Saudi royal, and billionaire, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Alsaud, is seeking to sell his Italian castle in the Turin hills for 18 million euros, or $25.8 million. The almost 1,000-year-old Castle of Castagneto Po also happens to be the former home of Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, France's First Lady.

That sale is being brokered by Emile Garcin Properties, a global luxury real estate firm with roots in France and plans to expand into the U.S. The firm has brokered many formerly royal estates, including the recent 32 million euro ($45.8 million) sale of a Parisian Mansion listed as a historical monument with ties to France's royal families of centuries past.

Built by King Leopold II of Belgium Billionaire, Lily Safra, last confirmed owner.

King Leopold II reportedly built a series of waterside homes for his many mistresses. This 20-acre estate is valued at 500 million euros.

Villa Leopolda, Villefranche-sur-mer, France.
(Duliere/Nice Martin/PHOTOPQR/Newscom)

Formerly owned by Prince Bandar bin Sultan of Saudi Arabia

Bought by real estate executive Jeffrey Soffer for $36.5 million in 2007.

Prince Bandar bin Sultan still owns the main house at his Hala Ranch complex, but he sold off this "guest house," which is back on the market for $40 million.

Star Mountain Ranch, Aspen, Colo.

Owned by Otto William, son of King Adalbert II of Italy. Currently for sale by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Alsaud of Saudi Arabia.

This 1,000-year-old castle boasts a robust royal pedigree, including its current billionaire Saudi prince-owner, who is asking 32 million euros.

Castle of Castagneto Po, Turin, Italy

Occupied in 1938 by former King Edward VIII of Great Britain, the Duke of Windsor

Current owner: Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.

The Chelsea Football Club owner snatched up this 1927 French Riviera castle in 2004, adding it to 15 other multimillion-dollar properties the billionaire has confirmed owning.

Chateau de la Croe, Cap d'Antibes, France (Alamy)

Yahoo News
Thursday, April 21, 2011 at 7:37 PM GMT+00:00