UK First Lady Akshata Murthy gives a glimpse into life at 10 Downing Street

The February issue of Tatler magazine will feature a profile on Akshata Murthy. (file)

London:

Rishi Sunak’s Indian wife Akshata Murthy plans to make 10 Downing Street a more accessible space during her tenure as Britain’s first lady and offers a glimpse into the British prime minister’s official residence, according to a magazine feature released on Wednesday. is of. ,

The February issue of ‘Tatler’, which will hit the markets next week, features Murthy, the venture capitalist daughter of former fashion designer and Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy and author Sudha Murthy, on its cover.

In ‘no’. 10’s Chatelaine: Inside the Secret World of Mrs. Sunak’, it goes behind the scenes with those involved in the flat’s renovation, as well as close friends and associates who have been given the idol’s go-ahead to share a glimpse of life in one Can share some details. Famous addresses of the world.

“There will be a different vibe now,” a friend told the magazine, in reference to the idol’s plans to move away from the more closed-off style of her predecessor – Boris Johnson’s wife Carrie Johnson.

“Akshata is putting her stamp on it and plans more events and meetings. She wants to open up the staterooms as much as possible so the public can understand the history and significance of the building. She looks forward to celebrating the stories.” ” of Britain through Downing Street – whether the visitors are heads of state or members of the public,” the friend is quoted as saying.

Challis Interiors in Richmond, Yorkshire, was chosen by Sunak, both 42, after the work they had done on their constituency home in northern England.

They were drawn to fix up the flat above Number 10 Downing Street when Rishi Sunak was still chancellor and the family of four – including daughters Krishna, 11, and Anushka, 9 – made it their home. used.

When Britain got its first Indian-origin prime minister in October, the family decided to move back to the same flat – a break from the 1990s trend when prime ministers used the large flat above No. 11 Downing Street as their residence. used in.

The magazine notes: “If alarm bells are ringing at the sight of Johnson’s spectacular renovation at number 11 – and given his record of finding inventive ways to fund it – rest assured, it’s all paid off by the fad”. It was done at, oddly enough, undisclosed cost.

“It is almost as if the ambitious chancellor has speculated that he may one day return to Downing Street.” Murthy is said to have created exquisite clothing for the flat, which is “far less gaudy” than that associated with Johnson’s now-infamous ostentatious redecoration. And held back with heavy coordinating pendants in ivory of red, gold and damask,” interior designer John Challis told the magazine.

“The ornate cornicing was hand-gilded, as it would have been originally, and a rug was commissioned to almost fill the room. Akshata was very involved and eager to see how things were made .. She’s not even afraid to get caught up in it and that’s helping either,” he said.

The profile, which features the millionaire idol as striking a balance between frugality and luxury, traces his penchant for numbers back to his school days at Baldwin Girls’ High School in Bangalore and highlights his Ivy League education .

It added: “Her last call was Stanford in 2004, to gold-plate her CV for an MBA. It was also where she met her future husband.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)