Rebuilding work on Kate Middleton and Prince William's Kensington Palace apartment is costing the taxpayer £1 million, Buckingham Palace accounts show.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have spent £600,000 on internal work, while a further £400,000 has been spent on external repairs, including renewing the roof of the apartment.

The cost works out at nearly £20,000 for each of the apartment's 57 rooms, which will be shared by three people - one of whom is a baby.

However, republicans fear not - the cost of decorating the apartment will be met privately.

Kate was recently seen shopping for antiques in Hungerford, a regular pastime while staying at her parents' home in Bucklebury, Berkshire.

Heavily pregnant Kate was seen wearing a Burberry trench coat, black trousers and black ballet pumps as she visited Youll's Antiques.

An onlooker told US Weekly: "Kate looked really happy. The weather was a bit windy, but she smiled as she walked around the town ... Her bump is really big now!

"Kate often goes shopping in Hungerford when she is staying at her parents' house. She has a good eye for British antiques

"...the cost of decorating the apartment will be met privately."

By privately I assume they mean already sponged off the taxpayer rather than asking for extra.

The media always tells us they bring tourism to the country but that's just propaganda.

America have got the Disney characters such as mickey mouse to bring tourism which is a better deal as they don't rip the country off and you can shove them in a cupboard at the end of the day.

I have to admit that people do like that shit, however, Buckingham Palace, for example, would arguably be a much bigger tourist attraction if it was fully open to the public. It wouldn't interest me, but I'm sure millions of people would love to have a nosey around inside. Of course, this doesn't happen at present.