Secrets of the British royal family'due south private homes
A room of one's own
Every bit you lot might await, being a member of the British royal family usually comes with some pretty purple real estate. When Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth Ii inherited the throne from her father, King George Half dozen, she gained a collection of beautiful backdrop that the monarch and her late husband, Prince Philip, lived and worked in together beyond the years, every bit well as stately homes where members of the extended royal family now reside. From Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle, Sandringham and Balmoral, click or coil on to step inside the private homes of the royals and uncover their secrets...
Camilla to become Queen Espoused
On the eve of her Platinum Jubliee in February 2022, the Queen announced that Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall would be appointed Queen Consort when Prince Charles becomes king. Previously in Jan 2022, Camilla was made a member of the Order of the Garter, and before that in 2016, the Queen made her a member of her Privy Council. Once Charles is king, the majestic family will exist reorganising their living arrangements, with Prince Charles and Camilla moving into Buckingham Palace, and Prince William and Kate Middleton inheriting Windsor Castle, according to sources quoted by the MailOnline.
Buckingham Palace
The Queen's official London dwelling dates from 1703 when the Duke of Buckingham built a fine townhouse in the capital'southward stylish St James'southward district. The townhouse was acquired by King George Three in 1762 and lavishly enlarged in the 18th century.
Buckingham Palace
Victoria Jones / PA Wire / PA Images
Buckingham Palace is the London residence and administrative headquarters of the British monarchy. An international landmark, the palace has as well been at the centre of national celebrations – and mourning – for the British people. From Princess Diana's funeral to the London Olympics, crowds gathered along The Mall, a road which runs from the palace to Trafalgar Square in central London. Almost recently, mourners left flowers and tributes outside the palace gates for the Queen's husband, Prince Philip, who passed abroad on nine April 2021 at the age of 99.
Buckingham Palace
@theroyalfamily / Instagram
The Queen is usually ensconced in the palace during weekdays, and for the past ii years has ofttimes had to acquit official business over video calls due to the pandemic. In 2020 in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, she left Buckingham Palace on 19 March for Windsor Castle to cocky-isolate with her belatedly husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, and a small number of staff.
Measuring 828,000 square feet, Buckingham Palace comprises a full of 775 rooms, which include 19 state rooms, 52 regal and invitee bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms – none of which are ensuite, a sign of the palace'south old-fashioned layout.
Buckingham Palace
Rex George 4, who extended the palace in the 19th century at significant expense, was large on bling and the gold state rooms certainly put Trump Tower to shame. They include the opulent 1844 Room and the White Drawing Room.
Buckingham Palace
Other highlights range from the Throne Room (pictured) and Music Room to the Picture Gallery, which features works by Rembrandt and Vermeer and is currently undergoing a remodel. The palace besides boasts 40 acres of grounds, a pond pool, the Royal Mews stables and the Queen's Gallery, which exhibits 450 paintings at any one fourth dimension.
Buckingham Palace
WPA Puddle / Puddle / Getty Images
The Queen has a nine-room private apartment just isn't said to be especially addicted of the suite; information technology is her place of work after all. According to regal author Penny Junor's bookThe Business firm, the Queen wanted to reside in nearby Clarence Business firm but was persuaded to move into Buckingham Palace by Sir Winston Churchill. Hither she is pictured in 2016, giving her annual Christmas speech.
Buckingham Palace
WPA Pool / Pool / Getty Images
When Charles becomes king, it is rumoured that he and Camilla will motion out of their electric current residence in Clarence House and into Buckingham Palace. The news came after the Queen's message to the public on the eve of her Platinum Jubilee. The move to Buckingham Palace has been likened to living in the 'flat above the shop', with Charles purportedly intending to live and work at that place. Reports from MailOnline suggest that the Palace may be opened upward more than as a tourist attraction under the future Male monarch'southward vision, which could too include a slimmed-downward monarchy and a tightening of ranks in the purple family, co-ordinate toThe Independent.
Windsor Castle
In contrast to Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle is thought to exist the Queen's favourite official habitation. The ane,000-room castle, which is located in Windsor Great Park, just west of London, dates from the 11th century and sprawls over 484,000 foursquare feet.
Windsor Castle
The Queen chose to address the nation from the castle'due south White Drawing Room at the offset of the coronavirus outbreak in April 2020. The moving oral communication, which evoked the wartime adage 'we'll meet again', was filmed with only ane socially distanced photographic camera operator at Windsor Castle. The White Drawing Room is filled with meaningful family unit heirlooms, including an ornate 18th-century cabinet and a carpet that survived the burn of 1992.
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is the Queen'due south official land residence and although some formal engagements are usually conducted at Windsor, it'southward essentially her place to unwind. Her Majesty unremarkably spends most of her private weekends at the castle and stays in that location during Easter, as well as in June for Purple Ascot and the Order of the Garter service (pictured). However, she spent most of 2020 and 2021 at the castle, isolating due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Windsor Castle
The fairytale castle is famed for its magnificent state apartments, considered by many experts to stand for some of the finest examples of Georgian style. The gold rooms are decorated with priceless antiques and paintings past Rubens and Holbein.
Windsor Castle
Other highlights include the medieval St George's Chapel and Hall (pictured), and a wealth of treasures, from the artworks that are displayed in the Drawings Gallery, to King Charles II'south bed chamber and Queen Mary'southward sumptuous doll's business firm. The chapel was also the location for the ceremonial funeral of Prince Philip, where he is lying at balance in the Royal Vault until the death of the Queen, when they will be buried together in the church's King George 6 memorial chapel.
Windsor Castle
The private apartments at Windsor are hardly ever photographed. This rare glimpse within the Queen's private sitting room, which shows Her Majesty coming together the former New Zealand Prime number Minister John Key in 2015, was shared via the British Monarchy's official Twitter account.
Windsor Castle
Like Buckingham Palace, maintaining Windsor Castle is a costly process. The infamous 1992 burn down that ripped through the building caused £36.5 million ($50m) worth of damage – information technology took 250 firefighters xv hours to tackle the devastating blaze. The UK government signed off a £26 one thousand thousand ($33m) refurbishment project.
Windsor Castle
Andrew Matthews / PA Annal / PA Images
In more recent years, one of the biggest occasions marked at Windsor Castle was the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on xix May 2018. Watched by the earth, the couple exchanged vows in front of 600 guests at St George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
Windsor Castle
Pool/Samir Hussein / Getty Images
If the rumour mill is to exist believed, Prince William and Kate Middleton could take over Windsor Castle when Prince Charles becomes king. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who are currently based in London at Kensington Palace, are said to exist the likeliest selection to inherit the monarch'south beloved castle. However, for the fourth dimension being, they may have their eye on the Queen's 'forgotten castle'.
Fort Belvedere
David Goddard / Getty Images
Fort Dais is located seven miles from Windsor Castle in Windsor Not bad Park. Built between 1750 and 1755 for Prince William Augustus, it was expanded by Male monarch George IV who added an octagonal dining room, 3-storey annexe and a large flag pole. After being occupied by many members of the regal family, it was lived in by Edward VIII until his abdication from the throne in 1936. Fort Belvedere and then stood empty until 1955, when the Queen's cousin, Gerald Lascelles moved in.
Fort Belvedere
Tony Gibson / Stringer / Getty Images
Known equally the Queen's 'forgotten castle' because she has never lived in the home, rumours propose that Kate and William are considering the fort for their new family residence, according to reports from theEvening Standard. The Grade II-listed country firm is situated close to the homes of other notable British royals, including the Earl and Countess of Wessex's estate and Frogmore Cottage – the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's abode, where Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank are currently living. Here nosotros meet famed jazz trumpeter Airheaded Gillespie pictured playing the piano at Fort Belvedere on 6 June 1963.
Fort Belvedere
Bart Lenoir / Shutterstock
Fort Belvedere underwent another huge renovation by Edward VIII in 1929 and again a few years afterwards in 1932 when he added a swimming pool, a lawn tennis court and stables within its grounds, according to Architectural Digest. Afterwards reportedly feeling that they lack privacy, as well as tiring of the chaos of city life, will the Cambridges make the motion to Fort Belvedere?
Frogmore House
Alexi Lubomirski / PA Archive / PA Images
Windsor was also a very special place for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, every bit it was the setting for their engagement photoshoot and wedding reception. Taken in the grounds of Windsor's Frogmore House in December 2017, this engagement photo shows the happy couple relaxed and smiling. They afterwards relocated to Nottingham Cottage within the grounds of Kensington Palace for the birth of infant Archie. The young family are currently living in Los Angeles, not far from Meghan's mother Doria, after stepping down equally senior royals at the end of March 2020. Co-ordinate to reports, Harry volition be renewing their Frogmore Cottage lease in club to continue serving the Queen.
The Royal Guild
@theroyalfamily / Instagram
But Meghan and Harry aren't the just royals to tie the knot in Windsor. On 17 July 2020, Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mozzi were married in a small private ceremony at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at the Majestic Gild in Windsor. Just iii miles from Windsor Castle, the Royal Lodge has been the official residence of the Duke of York since 2004, following the Queen Female parent'due south passing ii years' earlier.
The Royal Society
@sarahferguson15 / Instagram
The Grade 2-listed firm is where Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie spent much of their childhoods. A wooden swing engraved with Eugenie's name still sits in the garden to this day. The guild is where Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson, Princess Eugenie and her married man, Jack Brooksbank, isolated together in the initial coronavirus lockdown.
Gatcombe Park manor
Tim Graham / Contributor ; Getty
In 1976, the Queen purchased Gatcombe Park manor from the former Home Secretary Lord Butler of Saffron Walden for her daughter, Princess Anne, and her first husband, Helm Phillips. In 2013, Princess Anne and her current husband Timothy Laurence were joined by her daughter Zara and her husband Mike Tindell on the Gloucestershire estate.
Gatcombe Park estate
Matt Cardy / Stringer ; Getty
Surrounded past 700 acres of state, the estate also plays host to a handful of equestrian events including the annual Festival of British Eventing, which was set up to run in August 2021 every bit normal earlier being cancelled at the last minute due to covid restrictions. The Festival is ready to return with gusto in August 2022.
Gatcombe Park estate
The busiest of the working royals, Princess Anne stays in the main Grade II-listed estate house on the estate. The Princess is shown here in her living room which boasts a cosy floral sofa and armchair, wooden furniture and plenty of family photos.
Gatcombe Park manor
Tim Graham / Contributor ; Getty
Gatcombe Park is as well run as a working subcontract with livestock including cattle and breeding horses. Known for favouring a state lifestyle, Princess Anne likewise has a London residence in St James'southward Palace that she stay in when conducting official business concern.
Bagshot Park
David Goddard / Correspondent ; Getty
Just eleven miles due south of Windsor, Bagshot Park has been a imperial residence for around 200 years and is more recently the dwelling house of Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie Wessex, since their wedding in 1999. Sat in 51 acres of land, the Grade II-listed main house, which is located in Surrey, is beautifully landscaped with pristine gardens, trees and winding paths for the family to enjoy.
Bagshot Park
David Goddard / Contributor ; Getty
Prior to the couple's wedding, the impressive estate underwent extensive renovations under the watchful middle of Prince Edward, costing more than an estimated £2 million ($two.8m), which was function-funded by the Crown Manor and partly past Prince Edward himself.
As a individual house, the public rarely gets a glimpse inside the habitation. But this rare sneak peek shows the lavishly busy billiard room, which features 241 wooden panels that were individually carved by Ram Singh, students of the Mayo Schoolhouse, and carpenters in Amritsar in Republic of india, afterwards beingness commissioned by the Knuckles and Duchess of Connaught to showcase Indian design.
Bagshot Park
@theroyalfamily / Instagram
The dwelling house has been leased to Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex for 150 years at a toll of £five million ($6.9m). Today the purple couple live at the estate with their 2 children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Brendon Howard / Shutterstock
The Queen's official Scottish residence, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, sits at the end of the Imperial Mile in Edinburgh. The palace has been the home of Scottish kings and queens since the 16th century, and past residents take included Mary, Queen of Scots.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Holyroodhouse dates way back to 1128 when information technology was founded as a monastery. Information technology was converted into a palace by Male monarch James IV of Scotland in the early 16th century and farther additions were made by his successor, King James V of Scotland, likewise as subsequently kings and queens.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Her Majesty is commonly resident at the Palace in early summertime for Holyrood Week and stays there when she has official business concern to accept care of in Scotland. Holyrood Week is a serial of events that celebrate Scottish culture, history and excellence, and includes an investiture (pictured), whereby the Queen confers honours in person.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Courtesy Royal Collection
When the royals aren't in residence, the palace commonly opens to the public. The star draws include Mary, Queen of Scots' private bed chamber (pictured), the Throne Room, the Evening Drawing Room and the splendid Great Gallery, the largest room in the palace.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Otto Domes / Wikimedia (CC SA iv.0)
The Great Gallery displays an extensive array of portraits of Scottish monarchs, both mythical and real. Moreover, the palace is said to be haunted, namely by the ghost of 'Bald Agnes', a woman who was executed for witchcraft in the 16th century. Rumour has it that she'south been spotted walking through the land rooms on more than one occasion.
Balmoral Castle
Byunau Konstantin / Shutterstock
Staying in bonnie Scotland, Balmoral Castle is the Queen's Highlands vacation dwelling. Different Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Holyroodhouse, which are owned by the Crown Estate, it is the personal holding of the Queen. Balmoral has been a imperial residence since 1852 when it was acquired by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria.
Balmoral Castle
Targn Pleiades / Shutterstock
The Scottish Baronial-style castle, which sits in 50,000 acres of wild Highlands countryside, is decorated in traditional Caledonian style – think lots of tartan, thistle designs and stag antlers. The manor also includes lodges, holiday cottages and diverse outbuildings.
Balmoral Castle
As an escape from her hectic schedule, the Queen would commonly spend her summer holiday at Balmoral in August and September. While Windsor is said to be Her Majesty'southward favourite official abode, Balmoral is thought to be her preferred individual residence. In 2020 when the pandemic struck, the Queen stayed at Balmoral from August until mid-September, before staying at Sandringham in Norfolk with Prince Philip then returning to Windsor Castle to isolate.
Balmoral Castle
While many people would imagine the Queen to surround herself with luxury, Balmoral is pretty frugal – every bit far as castles go – and is rumoured to exist more than than a niggling draughty in the winter months. Even so, the manor certainly isn't stuck in the Night Ages – in 2020, plans for a new hydroelectric turbine were given the go-ahead, edifice on the existing hydro scheme established in 2014. The eco-engineering science volition aid power the vast property, with surplus electricity sold back to the grid.
Balmoral Castle
Virtually of the castle is out of bounds to the full general public, particularly during the late summer when the Queen and her family are ordinarily in residence. Fee-paying visitors tin can view the grounds and the castle's ballroom at other times, however.
Birkhall
Ron Bell / PA Archive / PA Images
Birkhall is function of the Balmoral Estate and is one of several backdrop that vest to Prince Charles. Since inheriting it from the Queen Mother after her death in 2002, he enjoys spending summers at the residence with the Duchess of Cornwall. The couple spent their honeymoon in that location in 2005 and it's also where Prince Charles recovered from coronavirus in 2020.
Birkhall
Hither, Queen Elizabeth Ii and Prince Charles are being presented with a first edition of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Female parent: The Official Biography by the author William Shawcross in the garden of Birkhall. The belatedly Queen Mother loved Birkhall and when visiting she would indulge in her love of salmon line-fishing, often while wearing tartan and tweed. Over the years, the famously dark-green-fingered Prince Charles has made a passion projection of restoring the beautiful gardens to their former glory, though they were sadly devastated by flooding in 2016.
Clarence Business firm
When Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall stay in London, they call Clarence House home. Continuing directly side by side to St James's Palace, the residence was previously home to the Queen Mother, equally well as to the Queen – and then Princess Elizabeth – and the Duke of Edinburgh following their marriage in 1947.
Clarence House
Christopher Furlong / Staff / Getty
Prince Charles and Camilla regularly welcome guests from around the globe to their London abode. Before the Prince moved into the holding, information technology underwent an extensive revamp with everything from color schemes to upholstery overhauled. Well-nigh meetings take place in the formal living room with its blue-toned furniture, fringed lamps and celebrated artwork. Hither, Prince Charles tin can be seen hosting King Willem-Alexander of holland at Clarence Business firm in October 2018.
Clarence House
Prince Charles spends a lot of his fourth dimension at Clarence Business firm in the grounds, which characteristic magnolia copse and a vegetable and fruit garden chock with tomatoes, apples and pears. The royal enjoys hosting outdoor meetings, events and parties in the gardens and even used them equally the background to his 2018 Christmas carte (pictured).
Highgrove Business firm
Highgrove Business firm in Gloucestershire has been one of Prince Charles' private residences since 1980. He moved into the estate with Princess Diana later they were married in 1981 and Princes Harry and William spent many of their determinative years in that location. In 1987, Charles remodelled the Georgian house, which is managed and owned past The Duchy of Cornwall.
Highgrove Business firm
Chris Jackson / PA Wire / PA Images
When the Prince of Wales first arrived at Highgrove Business firm, the garden was sparse apart from an sometime cedar tree. Over a period of 38 years, Prince Charles has transformed the 15-acre grounds into a tranquil oasis, consummate with an organic farm and renewable free energy systems.
Llwynywermod
Chris Jackson / Staff / Getty
As the Prince of Wales, it'southward apt that Prince Charles has a residence in the land of his championship's namesake. The Prince and the Duchess of Cornwall normally make an almanac summer visit to Llwynywermod, their restored farmhouse in Myddfai, a small village in the county of Carmarthenshire.
Llwynywermod
Aaron Chown / PA Archive / PA Images
Previously a model farm, it was renovated using locally sourced materials and traditional Welsh craftsmanship. The land surrounding the charming house features a courtyard with a fountain and ii small wildflower meadows, including one with an apple tree orchard. Prince Charles is pictured within the property here, along with the First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, in 2019.
Sandringham Firm
David Dixon / geograph.org.united kingdom (CC SA 2.0)
Like Balmoral, Sandringham Business firm in Norfolk is one of the Queen's private homes. Her Majesty spends Christmas at Sandringham and stays until February. It is from hither that she has recorded many of her famous annual messages to the nation. However, in 2020 and 2021 the Queen stayed at Windsor Castle for the Christmas period due to coronavirus restrictions.
Sandringham House
Radomir Rezny / Shutterstock
Situated in xx,000 acres of grounds, the house dates from Elizabethan times and was snapped up by Queen Victoria in 1862 as a gift for her son, the futurity King Edward 7. He rebuilt it in 1870 in suitably sophisticated mode, with a ballroom added in 1881 and a guest wing constructed in the 1890s.
Sandringham House
Courtesy Sandringham Estate
Described every bit 'the most comfy business firm in England', Sandringham featured the latest domestic technology following its rebuild in 1870 – the royal residence was ane of the offset land houses in England to avowal gas lighting, flushing toilets and working showers.
Sandringham Firm
Courtesy Sandringham Estate
Compared to the monarch'southward other imperial residences, Sandringham has a somewhat more relaxed feel. The footing floor is busy in elegant Edwardian style with a roaring hearth taking centre stage in this reception room. Sandringham is commonly open up to the public when the royals aren't in residence, withal, the manor is currently closed with a view to reopening in April 2022.
Sandringham House
As well every bit the main business firm, the spacious manor includes several well-appointed houses. The Georgian Anmer Hall, for instance, is the country habitation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, after it was given to them by the Queen equally a wedding gift.
Hillsborough Castle
Courtesy Historic Imperial Palaces
The to the lowest degree lived-in of the Queen's homes, Hillsborough Castle near Lisburn in County Down, is the Monarch's official Northern Ireland residence. Her Majesty stays at Hillsborough when she has official business concern to conduct in the region.
Hillsborough Castle
jAYkROW / Flickr [CC By-NC-ND ii.0]
Hillsborough was built in the belatedly 18th century past Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire, and was remodelled in the 19th and early 20th centuries. More stately habitation than castle, the two-storey Georgian mansion is set in 100 acres of rolling grounds.
Hillsborough Castle
The estate was sold to the British government and became an official royal residence following the creation of Northern Ireland in the 1920s. Hillsborough Castle was the location of the signing of the celebrated Anglo-Irish gaelic Agreement in 1985.
Hillsborough Castle
Courtesy Historic Royal Palaces
Hillsborough Castle's ornate state rooms never neglect to impress. Highlights of the grand property include the glorious Throne Room, the Land Dining Room and Lady Gray'southward antiquarian-packed report, named subsequently the married woman of the last Governor of Northern Republic of ireland.
Hillsborough Castle
David in Lisburn / Flickr [CC BY 2.0]
The extensive grounds are a gorgeous mix of ornamental gardens, woodland and waterways, and characteristic a number of must-sees, including Lady Alice's Temple (pictured), the statue of Ossian and the Quaker burying grounds.
Hillsborough Castle
Courtesy Celebrated Royal Palaces
Similar the Queen'southward other residences, the castle isn't completely closed off to us commoners. If y'all desire to take a peek inside the castle yourself, Hillsborough Castle is normally open to the public from April to September, while the gardens can be visited all twelvemonth round.
Kensington Palace
Colin Smith / geograph.org.uk (CC SA 2.0)
Kensington Palace has been a imperial residence since the 17th century. Today, the iconic palace is home to the apartments and offices of members of the royal family, and celebrated areas of the estate are usually open for the general public to visit.
Kensington Palace
Instagram / @dukeandduchessofcambridge
It is currently the official residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The family lives in 1A, a 20-room apartment, and before they moved in, they undertook a £4.5 meg ($6m) refurbishment. The apartment was formerly home to Princess Margaret, the Queen's sister.
Kensington Palace
Dominic Lipinski / WPA Pool / Getty Images
Pictured here is the Cartoon Room of Apartment 1A, where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry entertained onetime Us President Barack Obama and erstwhile First Lady Michelle Obama earlier attending a private dinner party back in 2016.
Kensington Palace
@KensingtonRoyal / Twitter
During the same visit, a young Prince George had the chance to thank Barack and Michelle for the rocking equus caballus they sent to the young prince for his kickoff birthday, which came complete with the presidential seal on its saddle. They're pictured here in the royal living room of apartment 1A, which features cosy window seats and charming sash windows.
Kensington Palace
@kensingtonroyal / Instagram
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, hosted legendary broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough in the gardens of Kensington Palace in September 2020.
Kensington Palace
irisphoto1 / Shutterstock
Set in effectually 60 acres of manicured grounds, the palace boasts some of the most well-kept gardens in London. One of the virtually popular spots is the Sunken Garden, which is where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle posed for their official engagement photos. It dates back to 1908 and features an ornamental swimming, fountains and terraced flowerbeds. Certainly fit for a majestic affair!
Honey this? Follow us on Facebook for a await inside more than royal residences
Be the first to comment
Do you want to comment on this article? You need to exist signed in for this feature
0 Response to "What House Does the Royal Family Belong to"
Post a Comment