British officer renting former Diana flat

LONDON, March 1 (UPI) -- The officer in charge of the British army is renting a Kensington Palace flat once used by Diana, princess of Wales, documents show.

The Times of London reported Saturday that, according to released documents, Gen. Richard Dannatt and his wife Philippa are living in part of the apartments the late princess once used.

The documents, released under freedom of information regulations, state the Defense Ministry department is being charged nearly $155,000 a year for the accommodations.

Dannatt, the chief of the general staff, pays nearly $12,500 personally for the living quarters.

The Times said the released papers reveal Dannatt is one of 14 senior military officials whose living accommodations are paid for by the Defense Ministry. The combined cost for the 14 officers' housing is nearly $571,000 a year.

The Times said the news of such expenditures comes after a 2007 National Audit Office report claimed 19,000 homes housing the families of British troops are currently substandard.