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Vivat Regina!

by The Laird o’ Thistle
September 9, 2015

The day has finally come, the day when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – aka Her Grace Elizabeth (first of that name) Queen of Scots – surpasses Queen Victoria as the longest reigning monarch in the history of the British Isles. Queen Victoria is now second, and poor old George III gets bumped to third place… though he is still the longest reigning “King” in British history.

I do not remember when I first realized that this day might come, and then that it would probably come, and then that it was almost certain to come… but, I have been watching and anticipating the day for a long time.

My thoughts today are somewhat personal. Some years ago Dame Helen Mirren, in the BBC documentary Diamond Queen, noted that “except for my sister, the Queen is the only person who has been a constant presence for my whole life.” That is true for many of us. My own first reliable memory of the Queen is of her at Winston Churchill’s funeral… as hushed commentators spoke of the breaking of protocol so that HM entered St. Paul’s before the Churchill family and left after them. (That, at least, is my memory… 50 years on… of what they said.) I was nine years old at the time. And then, within a few years, I was “hooked” on being a royal watcher, from afar.

While I do admire other royals… Prince Charles for his charity and environmental work, Princess Anne for her charitable efforts and world travel for Save the Children, and so on… it is the Queen who has always most fascinated me. I am fascinated by the utterly serious and dutiful way in which she has done her “job” over the years, in some ways against her more private and down-to-earth countrywoman’s nature. With all due respect to Queen Margrethe and Princess Beatrix, virtually no one on earth fails to understand who you mean if you say simply “THE Queen.”

Today she does not simply set a record. Today she leaves her predecessors in the dust. At the end of his reign, George III was blind, deaf, and insane. The old Victoria was feeble and withdrawn if not quite the grieving recluse of her middle years. Queen Elizabeth, though increasingly moving more carefully and slowly, and needing a hand at times on the steps, continues to be out and about, doing her ceremonial and public duties, going to church, doing her “boxes” of paperwork, and keeping abreast of national and international affairs in the U.K., her other realms, the Commonwealth, and throughout the world. She has worked with and been friends with, Indira Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. In 2011, just a few words at Dublin Castle were said to have changed history and set a new course of Anglo-Irish relations. Last year, an absolutely innocuous but carefully timed word after church in Scotland may have swayed a crucial referendum. (Both being items, I might add, that David Starkey seems to have forgotten in his recent comments.) She has traveled further and been personally seen by more people, than any other monarch in the history of the world.

Across the years she has moved through her life surrounded by royal relatives spanning three centuries, thus far. She remembers three of Queen Victoria’s children (Louise, Arthur of Connaught, and Beatrice), as well as many of Victoria’s grandchildren. Throughout the years she has been a devoted granddaughter to her beloved “Grandpapa England” and Queen Mary, a devoted daughter to her revered father – King George VI – and her long-lived “Mummy”, and a loving and patient sister to Princess Margaret. She has only ever had eyes for one man, Prince Philip, and the two keep soldiering on side-by-side, at ages 89 and 94 respectively. The Queen faced the challenges, early on, of being a constantly working mother, and reportedly regrets not having been able to be more present to and with her children. Since Princess Margaret’s death, she continues to include the Snowdon children and grandchildren in the close family circle. She is a loving granny, with a particular bond to her heir’s heir, Prince William, with whom she used to share Sunday tea when he was a student at Eton. The arrival of her great-grandchildren seems to please her greatly, as evidenced by those wonderful pictures of her interacting with little Prince George at Princess Charlotte’s christening earlier this summer. Those children may easily live and perhaps reign, on into the 22nd century.

Meanwhile… today is a day, a milestone, but not yet an ending. Next spring she turns 90. In 2017 the Windsor dynasty turns 100, with her having led it through nearly two-thirds of that time. Later that year, God-willing, she and the Duke of Edinburgh will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary. More grandchildren will probably marry, and more great-grandchildren will probably appear. The U.K. will continue to reconfigure itself… or, “its-selves”… and so will Europe and the world. She will soon be seeing her 13th U.S. President enter the White House. She’s now on her 7th Pope. And, so it goes….

Thank you, Ma’am, for a lifetime of service as Princess and as Queen. Thank you, for all that has been done, and all that will yet be done. God bless you, now and always!

Yours Aye,
Ken Cuthbertson

Queen Elizabeth II of The United Kingdom

by Scott Mehl and Susan Flantzer © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom; Credit – The Royal Family Facebook page

Destined to become the longest-reigning British monarch, Princess Elizabeth of York was born at 2:40 am on April 21, 1926, at 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair, London, the home of her maternal grandparents. She was the daughter of the future King George VI and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, at the time the Duke and Duchess of York. She was named in honor of her mother, her great-grandmother Queen Alexandra, who had died five months earlier, on November 20, 1925, and her grandmother Queen Mary. Her paternal grandparents were King George V and Queen Mary, born Princess Victoria Mary of Teck, and her maternal grandparents were Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th and 1st Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck. At the time of her birth, Elizabeth was third in the line of succession to the British throne, following her uncle The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII and Duke of Windsor) and her father.

Queen Elizabeth II Resources 

On May 29, 1926, in the Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace in London, England, Princess Elizabeth of York was christened.

Her godparents were:

For the first few years of her life, Elizabeth was raised at her parents’ home at 145 Piccadilly, in London, and at White Lodge in Richmond Park.

Elizabeth had one younger sibling:

In 1930, after the birth of Princess Margaret, the family moved to Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park. Royal Lodge is most associated with her mother, as it was her country home until she died in 2002. It is now the home of Prince Andrew, The Duke of York.

In January 1936, Elizabeth’s grandfather, King George V, died at Sandringham. Her uncle David became King Edward VIII, and her father was now heir-presumptive to the throne. Even then, it was expected that the King would marry and have an heir – but as history shows us, this was not how things would turn out. In December 1936, King Edward VIII abdicated the throne, and Elizabeth’s father became King George VI. The quiet family life the Yorks had enjoyed would be changed forever. The young 10-year-old princess was now the heiress-presumptive to the British throne. However, because there was always the possibility of a younger brother being born and becoming heir apparent, Elizabeth did not receive any of the titles traditionally held by the heir. She remained, simply, The Princess Elizabeth.

photo: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS

photo: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS

King George VI’s coronation was held in 1937 (on the date originally scheduled for his elder brother, Edward VIII). Princess Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret, attended the ceremony, resplendent in ermine robes and small gold coronets.

The two princesses often attended events with their parents. One that would be most notable in Elizabeth’s life was a visit to the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth in 1939. Here she met and spent time with, her second cousin once removed via King Christian X of Denmark and her third cousin via Queen Victoria, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark. Philip was the son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice of Battenberg. Philip was a cadet at the College, and because of his family relationship, was asked to join the official party to entertain the young princesses. The two had already met some years earlier at the wedding of Elizabeth’s uncle, The Duke of Kent, to Philip’s cousin, Princess Marina of Greece but it was in Dartmouth that the 13-year-old Elizabeth truly took notice of her nearly 18-year-old cousin. It is said that Elizabeth was instantly smitten with the dashing Philip and the two began a correspondence that quickly blossomed into a romance.

Princess Elizabeth undertook her first official public engagement on her 16th birthday – an inspection of the Grenadier Guards, of whom she had been appointed Colonel-in-Chief. From this point on, her public role increased and she took on more official engagements, both with her parents and on her own. In 1945, she joined the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service with the rank of Subaltern, where she trained as a driver and mechanic. She was later promoted to the rank of Junior Commander.

Unbeknownst to the British people, Philip and Elizabeth had become engaged privately in 1946. The King consented, with the condition that the announcement would be held off until after Elizabeth’s 21st birthday the following year. The family was on a tour of southern Africa when Elizabeth turned 21. On that day, the Princess gave a radio address from Cape Town, South Africa, in which she dedicated her life to the service of the Commonwealth:

“I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted
to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”

(You can hear the entire speech HERE.)

photo: The Telegraph

photo: The Telegraph

Upon the family’s return home, the engagement of The Princess Elizabeth and Lt Philip Mountbatten was announced on July 10, 1947. The couple married four months later, on November 20, 1947, at Westminster Abbey. Just prior, the King issued Letters Patent granting Philip the style of His Royal Highness, and the titles Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich. In addition, he was made a Knight of the Order of the Garter.

Following their honeymoon, spent at Broadlands (the Mountbatten estate in Hampshire) and Birkhall on the Balmoral Estate, the couple took up residence at Windlesham Moor, a country home in Surrey that was leased for them. They remained at Windlesham Moor until July 1949 when they moved into Clarence House in London. Elizabeth and Philip had four children, two born before she became Queen and two born after she became Queen.

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh with their family in 1979 at Balmoral Castle with two-year-old Peter Phillips in the background; Photo Credit – www.royal.gov.uk

In late January 1952, Elizabeth and Philip embarked on a tour of Australia and New Zealand on behalf of her father, whose doctors would not allow him to travel. On February 6, 1952,  King George VI passed away at Sandringham. The new Queen learned of his death at the Sagana Lodge in Kenya, where the royal party was staying en route to Australia. They immediately returned to London, where she made her Accession Declaration to the Privy Council on February 8, 1952.

photo: The Telegraph

photo: The Telegraph

On June 2, 1953, the Queen’s coronation was held at Westminster Abbey. This was the first British Coronation that had been televised although some parts were deemed too sacred to be seen. In November 1952, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh embarked on a six-month tour of the Commonwealth, ending in Malta. Here, the couple was joined by their children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, and the family returned to London on the newly fitted HMY Britannia.

During her reign, Queen Elizabeth II was perhaps the most recognizable person in the world. She made numerous foreign visits, including State Visits, and hosted numerous incoming State Visits, all in her role as Head of State. She also made numerous visits to Commonwealth countries in her role as Head of the Commonwealth.

In 2012, she celebrated her Diamond Jubilee. Queen Elizabeth joined her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, as the only two British monarchs to reach 60 years on the throne. Several days of celebrations were held, including a grand regatta on the Thames, a concert in front of Buckingham Palace, and a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey. It was celebrated not only in the United Kingdom but around the world. Members of the Royal Family traveled to all of the Commonwealth Realms and many other Commonwealth countries on her behalf while Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh traveled throughout the United Kingdom.

photo: The Telegraph

photo: The Telegraph

On July 27, 2012, Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Olympic Games in London. Breaking with tradition, Her Majesty appeared in a short film that began the Opening Ceremonies. Seated at her desk in Buckingham Palace, she is joined by James Bond (played by Daniel Craig), and the two leave for the stadium, where they arrive by parachute! Needless to say, the crowd was overjoyed, and Queen Elizabeth was greeted by the cheers and applause of everyone in attendance. The following year, she was presented with an honorary BAFTA award for her support of the British film industry. The presenter referred to her as “the most memorable Bond girl yet”. I think all of us would agree. You can watch Queen Elizabeth II’s Olympic entrance HERE.

 

On April 9, 2021, Queen Elizabeth’s husband of seventy-three years, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh died at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, at the age of 99, just two months short of his 100th birthday. The funeral arrangements were planned over the years, with Prince Philip’s involvement and Queen Elizabeth signed off on the funeral plans. Last-minute changes were necessary to ensure compliance with COVID-19 restrictions, including only thirty guests being allowed at the funeral. One of the most poignant images of the funeral was the nearly 95-year-old Queen Elizabeth II, now a widow, sitting alone in a choir stall at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor.

Queen Elizabeth II, official photo for the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne; Credit – The Royal Family Facebook page

In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, marking seventy years on the throne. There were celebrations throughout the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth nations. See Unofficial Royalty: Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Weekend.

Queen Elizabeth II meets Liz Truss, her 15th Prime Minister on September 6, 2002, two days before her death; Ironically, the photo shows the longest reigning British monarch and the shortest serving British Prime Minister; Credit – The Royal Family Facebook Page

On September 6, 2022, at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, Queen Elizabeth II had a meeting with the outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and then had a meeting with the incoming Prime Minister Liz Truss. On the evening of September 7, 2022, Queen Elizabeth was to be at a virtual Privy Council meeting during which Liz Truss would have taken her oath as First Lord of the Treasury (a position the Prime Minister also holds) and her new cabinet ministers would have been sworn into their roles. However, this statement was released: “After a full day yesterday, Her Majesty has this afternoon accepted doctors’ advice to rest. This means that the Privy Council meeting that had been due to take place this evening will be rearranged.”

On September 8, 2022, Buckingham Palace issued this statement: “Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”  All of Queen Elizabeth’s children and her grandsons Prince William and Prince Harry traveled to Balmoral.

King George VI Memorial Chapel; Credit – The Royal Family Facebook page

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom died at the age of 96, at Balmoral Castle, her home in Balmoral, Scotland, on September 8, 2022, at 3:10 PM, more than three hours before the public was informed. The death certificate, released by the National Records of Scotland cites that she died of “old age”. The informant of her death was The Princess Royal, Queen Elizabeth II’s daughter Princess Anne.  Only The Princess Royal and King Charles III were with Queen Elizabeth II when she died.

After a state funeral at Westminster Abbey in London, England on September 19, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II was interred in the King George VI Memorial Chapel in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in Windsor England, where her parents and her sister had been interred. At the time of Queen Elizabeth II’s burial, the coffin of her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who died in 2021, was moved from the Royal Vault at St. George’s Chapel to the King George VI Memorial Chapel.

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom is the longest-reigning British monarch having surpassed her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria on September 9, 2015. In May 2022, Queen Elizabeth II surpassed Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein (reigned from November 12, 1858 to  February 11, 1929, for 25,658 days or 70 years, 91 days) and then in June 2022, she surpassed King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand (reigned June 9, 1946 to October 13, 2016, for 25,694 days or 70 years, 126 days) to become the second longest-reigning monarch. Queen Elizabeth II reigned from February 6, 1952 – September 8, 2022, 70 years, 214 days. Only King Louis XIV of France, (reigned May 14, 1643 to September 1, 1715, for 26,407 days or 72 years, 110 days) has reigned longer. (Note: Lengths of reign are from a list of monarchs of states that were internationally sovereign for most or all of their reigns and have verifiable reigns by an exact date.)

Many monarchs came and went during the long reign of Queen Elizabeth II. See who they were at:

There were fifteen Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II:

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

House of Windsor Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Windsor Castle

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2012

Windsor Castle from the air. source: Wikipedia, photo by Mark S. Jobling

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is one of the official residences of The Sovereign, and where the late Queen Elizabeth II spent most weekends and several weeks each year. The castle is also used often as the site of State and official visits, and each year hosts the service for the Order of the Garter. With its imposing silhouette, Windsor Castle has become a symbol of the British monarchy.

Following the Norman invasion in 1066, William the Conqueror built a fortress on the site, which has been enlarged and expanded greatly by successive sovereigns. The original Round Tower was built and large walls surrounded the entire complex. A century later, King Henry II rebuilt much of the fortress in stone, including the Round Tower, outer walls, and many other structures. These included the Upper Ward, which contained the Royal Apartments. Successive sovereigns made their own changes and expansions to Windsor Castle – Edward III added the St. George’s Hall for the newly created Order of the Garter, and Edward IV began the construction of St. George’s Chapel in the Lower Ward.

Windsor Castle in 1658. source: Wikipedia

It was King Charles II who, following the Restoration, set out to turn the Castle into a showplace, hiring the best craftsmen and artists to build and decorate new State Apartments in the northern wing of the Upper Ward. Most of these rooms still exist and are included in the public tours of the castle.

During the reign of King George III, he made further changes, installing his wife and large family in the east and south wings, while the King himself lived in a small suite of rooms in the northern wing. Due to his illness, he wanted to be sure that his wife and family were insulated from his bursts of madness. His successor, King George IV, also made significant changes to the castle – often credited with turning the mere ‘castle’ into a true ‘palace’. During his reign, the Waterloo Chamber was added to recognize Napoleon’s defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.

Queen Victoria and her family used Windsor Castle quite often, and in 1861, it was where her beloved Prince Albert died of typhoid. The Queen turned his rooms into a virtual shrine to her late husband, insisting that they remain as they were the day he died. Following Albert’s death, the Queen spent even more time at Windsor, only using Buckingham Palace in London when absolutely necessary. Later generations have used Windsor quite regularly. During World War II, it is where the late Queen Elizabeth II and her sister, Princess Margaret, lived, along with other members of the extended royal family.

In 1992, on Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh’s 45th wedding anniversary, a massive fire broke out at the castle. During some restoration work in the Private Chapel, a curtain came into contact with a spotlight and sparked a fire that damaged or destroyed over 100 rooms and took over 15 hours to contain. The subsequent restoration took nearly 5 years and cost £37million (the majority of which was met by opening the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace to the public). You can read more about the fire at Windsor Castle here.

Despite its grand State Rooms and imposing stone walls, Windsor Castle was very much a home to the late Queen Elizabeth II and the late Duke of Edinburgh. As well as staying at Windsor on most weekends, Queen Elizabeth II officially took up residence at the castle for a month in March or April, over Easter. She also spent a week in June, which coincides with Royal Ascot and the service for the Order of the Garter.

The Castle can be broken down into three sections – The Lower Ward, The Middle Ward, and The Upper Ward.

St. George’s Chapel. photo © Susan Flantzer

St. George’s Chapel. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Lower Ward contains St. George’s Chapel, The Albert Memorial Chapel (originally The Lady Chapel) and the Horseshoe Cloister. It also contains lodgings for the Military Knights of Windsor and the residence of the Governor of the Military Knights.

The Round Tower. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Round Tower. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Middle Ward consists primarily of The Round Tower, which stands in the center between the Lower and Upper Wards. The Round Tower was part of the original fortress and was rebuilt by King Henry II in 1170. Today, it houses the Royal Archives.

Queen Elizabeth II reviewing troops during the Diamond Jubilee Parade and Muster, May 2012, in the quadrangle of the Upper Ward. To the left is the Guest Entrance, and to the right is The Queen’s Entrance. source: Wikipedia, Defence Imagery under the Open Government License v1.0

The Upper Ward is the primary section of the castle and contains the State Apartments as well as the private apartments of the Royal Family. Built around a large quadrangle, the Upper Ward has over 950 rooms, and about 225 of those are bedrooms!

The State Apartments are located in the northern wing. These include the apartments of King Charles II and Queen Catherine (Catherine of Braganza). Also within the State Apartments are:

St.George’s Hall; Credit – Wikipedia

St. George’s Hall runs along the northern wing of the Upper Ward, overlooking the quadrangle. The majestic hall is the site of State dinners.

The Waterloo Chamber. source: The Daily Mail

The Waterloo Chamber was created in the 1820s and displays portraits that commemorate Napoleon’s defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Today, it is often used for receptions and luncheons, including the luncheon for Knights and Ladies of the Garter prior to the Garter service at St. George’s Chapel each June.

The Semi-State Apartments, located in the eastern wing, are also considered part of the Private Apartments. Some of the prominent rooms include:

 

Located in the eastern wing of the Upper Ward, the Crimson Drawing Room is the principal room in the private apartments and is often used for private meetings and official functions. This is one of the rooms which was destroyed by the fire in 1992.

 

The Green Drawing Room, at one time the library, is next to the Crimson Drawing Room in the eastern wing and is also used for formal entertaining. During State visits, it often features a display of items from The Royal Collection pertaining to the country of the visiting Head of State. It is also used occasionally for meetings of the Privy Council.

 

The White Drawing Room, in the eastern wing, is typically used for official visits. It is often where The Sovereign meets with ministers and foreign guests. It was also the site of the formal photos taken after the wedding of The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall in 2005.

 

The State Dining Room, located in the northeastern corner of the Upper Ward, is used for smaller functions and meetings.

 

The Garter Throne Room is used primarily during the investiture of new Knights and Ladies of the Garter. It is located in the northern wing, overlooking the North Terrace.

The eastern wing overlooking the East Terrace. source: Wikipedia, photo by David Stanley

The actual private apartments of The Sovereign are in the eastern wing, overlooking the East Terrace and Gardens. These are accessed through the Queen’s Entrance, located in the south-eastern corner of the quadrangle.

Frogmore House in the Home Park. source: Wikipedia, photo by Gill Hicks

Outside the castle walls is the Home Park. Located primarily to the east of the castle, the Home Park is the private park of the castle and covers about 655 acres. Within the Home Park are The Frogmore Estate, two farms, the Windsor Farm Shop, and the Windsor Home Park Lawn Tennis Club. The Home Park is also the site of the Royal Windsor Horse Show each year.

The Copper Horse, Windsor Great Park. source: The Crown Estate

The Copper Horse, Windsor Great Park. source: The Crown Estate

Extending further to the south is Windsor Great Park. Covering over 5,000 acres, and managed by the Crown Estate, Windsor Great Park includes the majestic Long Walk, which extends from the southern wing of the palace and proceeds 2.65 miles to The Copper Horse, a statue of King George III on horseback. Also within Windsor Great Park are several other royal residences including Royal Lodge, Cumberland Lodge, and Fort Belvedere.

Learn more about the other British Royal Residences here!

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Balmoral Castle

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2015

source: Wikipedia

Balmoral Castle

Balmoral Castle, located on the large Balmoral Estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, is the Sovereign’s private residence in Scotland. Originally purchased in 1852, it has been a favorite residence of the royal family ever since.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert made several visits to Scotland beginning in 1842 and quickly fell in love with the Highlands. After staying at several other houses, Prince Albert arranged to acquire the lease on Balmoral Castle following the death of its previous tenant, Sir Robert Gordon, despite never having seen the castle or property before. Victoria and Albert first stayed at Balmoral in September 1848. Almost immediately, they realized the existing castle was too small for their large family and household, and plans were made to expand the building. However, Prince Albert was already in negotiations to purchase the estate. In June 1852, Albert purchased the castle and estate for £32,000, as well as purchasing the neighboring Birkhall estate, and leasing Abergeldie Castle.

In lieu of making any additions, it was decided instead to build a new castle just next to the existing one. In September 1853, Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone for the new castle, which was completed in 1856. At that point, the original building was torn down. That year, The Queen and her family began the tradition of spending time at Balmoral each year, where she was somewhat able to escape the formality of the court in London and indulge in her passions for painting and writing. Queen Victoria continued to visit Balmoral annually, making her last visit just a few months before her death.

The palace remained much the same until the reign of King George V and Queen Mary, who updated the building and designed many of the formal gardens. With the purchase of the neighboring Delnadamph Lodge and estate in 1978, the Balmoral Estate now comprises 50,000 acres, and include grouse moors and farmland, as well as the 2,500-acre Ballochbuie Forest, which was purchased by Queen Victoria in 1878 to save it from destruction.

The Queen greeting the Prime Minister at Balmoral. source: The Mirror

Queen Elizabeth II greeting the Prime Minister at Balmoral. source: The Mirror

The late Queen Elizabeth II spent her summer holiday at Balmoral, often with other members of the Royal Family. While there, she and the Duke of Edinburgh undertook many local engagements, as well as traditionally hosting the Prime Minister for a weekend. She also held a ball for the estate workers, known as the Ghillie’s Ball. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle on September 8, 2022.

 

Also on the estate is Craigowan Lodge. This is typically used for guests and was where the Prince and Princess of Wales usually stayed while visiting Balmoral. Today, it is best known for being where Queen Elizabeth II stayed when she first arrived in Scotland for her summer holiday. As Balmoral was usually still open to the public, she stayed at Craigowan Lodge for several days until the tours have ended.

Birkhall. source: Wikipedia, photo by Alan Findlay

Several miles to the east is Birkhall, which is currently the Scottish home of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall (Now The King and Queen Consort). The Birkhall estate, as mentioned above, was purchased by Prince Albert at the same time as Balmoral. It was initially given to the future King Edward VII, but he preferred to stay at Abergeldie Castle. It later became housing for staff and extended family and served as the residence of the Keeper of the Privy Purse to King Edward VII, Dighton Probyn.

In the 1930s, King George V gave Birkhall to the Duke and Duchess of York who used it quite often prior to their accession in 1936. Following their marriage in 1947, Birkhall was often used by then-Princess Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh. Following George VI’s death in 1952, Birkhall became the home of The Queen Mother until her death in 2002. Soon after, The Prince of Wales took over the property, and it is where he honeymooned with the Duchess of Cornwall following their marriage in 2005.

Abergeldie Castle. source: Wikipedia, photo by Peter Gordon

Abergeldie Castle was originally leased by Prince Albert as part of the purchase of Balmoral and Birkhall. It was first used by Queen Victoria’s mother, The Duchess of Kent, and later by Empress Eugenie of France. It then became the preferred residence of the future King Edward VII. While no longer holding the lease to the castle itself, the Royal Family still retain the lease to the estate’s game lands.

Learn more about the other British Royal Residences here!

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Sandringham House

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2015

By John Fielding – This file has been extracted from another file: Sandringham House from the air.jpg, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72040973

Sandringham House

Sandringham House, located on the 20,000 acre Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, is The Queen’s privately owned home. Originally purchased as a home for King Edward VII, it remains a favorite residence of The Queen, where she spends several months each year. The large Sandringham Estate is also the home to several other current and former royal residences, including York Cottage, Park House, Appleton House (demolished in 1984), and Anmer Hall which is currently the country home of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. In addition, over half of the estate is leased out as farmland. Like Balmoral Castle, Sandringham is owned privately by the Sovereign, and not part of the Crown Estate. It is privately managed by an estate agent and includes two studs, a fruit farm, and a public country park.

The house was purchased for the future King Edward VII in the spring of 1862, with its surrounding estate of nearly 6,900 acres (at that time), from Charles Spencer Cowper. Having come of age, Edward was given Marlborough House in London as his principal residence, but it was deemed important that he should have a country home as well. His father, Prince Albert, had been conducting the search for a suitable home but passed away in December 1861. Queen Victoria insisted that Albert’s work continue, and Edward himself visited Sandringham and decided that it was the most suitable home and quickly arranged for the purchase, for the then-staggering cost of £220,000.

At the time, the house was a plain Georgian building with a white stucco facade and had been built in the late 1700s. Edward took up residence shortly after his marriage to Princess Alexandra of Denmark in March 1863. Soon finding that the house was too small for their growing family, Edward had the house demolished and built a new grand house. The main house was finished in 1870, and further additions would follow: a ballroom in 1881, and a guest wing in the 1890s. The estate was also enlarged through the purchase of several neighboring farms and estates through the years.

Sandringham was used regularly for shooting, a favorite pastime of the future King Edward VII. He famously changed the clocks in the house set forward half an hour to allow for more light for hunting. This became widely known as Sandringham Time. The tradition continued until the accession of King Edward VIII in 1936.

Of Edward and Alexandra’s six children, only their youngest, Prince Alexander John, was born at Sandringham. Sadly, he died the following day. However, the house has been the site of several deaths in the royal family. Edward and Alexandra’s eldest son, Prince Albert Victor (Eddy), The Duke of Clarence and Avondale, died at the house in January 1892, just weeks after becoming engaged to Princess Mary of Teck.

 

Following King Edward VII’s death in 1910, Sandringham House remained the home of his widow, until her own death in 1925. At that point, King George V and Queen Mary were able to leave York Cottage on the estate, and take up residence in the main house. In 1932, King George V made the first Christmas broadcast to the Empire, via radio, which was broadcast live from the house. (And it was at Sandringham, 25 years later, when his granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, made her first televised broadcast from the library.) King George V passed away at Sandringham in January 1936.

After the abdication of King Edward VIII at the end of 1936, his successor, King George VI, was forced to purchase Sandringham (and Balmoral) from his elder brother, as Edward remained the owner of both. The new King and his family stayed at Sandringham often, and during World War II, the two young princesses spent large amounts of time on the estate. It was here that the King succumbed to cancer and died in his sleep on February 6, 1952.

source: Wikipedia, Elwyn Thomas Roddich

Each year, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, most members of the Royal Family spent Christmas at Sandringham. After everyone arrived (on a very specific timetable based on precedence), the family gathered in the White Drawing Room for tea, while finishing touches are made to the Christmas tree. Presents, displayed on tables in the nearby Red Drawing Room, were opened. Then, following drinks, a formal dinner was served in the Dining Room.

On Christmas Day, the entire family attended church at Saint Mary Magdalene Church on the estate. Most of the family walked from the house, while Queen Elizabeth II arrived by car. Over the next few days, nearly all of the royal family returned home, but Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Duke of Edinburgh remained at Sandringham, making it their base until early February. Queen Elizabeth II traditionally spent her Accession Day – February 6 – at Sandringham before returning to London.

As mentioned, there are several other current and former royal residences on the estate.

York Cottage. source: Wikipedia

York Cottage was the home of King George V and Queen Mary from the time of their marriage in 1893, and where most of their children were born. Today, it is used as offices for the estate.

Park House. source: The Sandringham Estate

Park House. source: The Sandringham Estate

Park House was the birthplace of Diana, Princess of Wales. Read more about Park House here!

Appleton House

Appleton House

Appleton House was given to Princess Maud, the daughter of King Edward VII, upon her marriage to the future King Haakon VII of Norway. It was also the birthplace of their son, the future King Olav V, in 1903. After Maud’s death, King Haakon returned the house to the royal family, and it was used occasionally to house visiting members of the royal family. After years of not being used, the house was torn down in 1984.

Amner Hall; Credit – By Richard Humphrey, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39950853

Anmer Hall is currently the country home of The Prince and Princess of Wales. Previous residents also include the Duke and Duchess of Kent, who leased the property from 1972 until 1990.

Learn more about the other British Royal Residences here!

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Palace of Holyroodhouse

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2012

source: Wikipedia, David Monniaux

Palace of Holyroodhouse

The Palace of Holyroodhouse is The Sovereign’s official residence in Scotland. It’s located in the ‘Old Town’ area of Edinburgh, at the end of the Royal Mile. The Palace is set in about 10 acres, which are part of the much larger Holyrood Park, and features gardens laid out by Prince Albert. Immediately adjacent to the palace are the ruins of Holyrood Abbey.

The palace’s origins begin with a monastery founded in 1128 by King David I. The name, Holy Rood (‘Holy Cross’) is believed to have come from the fragment of the True Cross which was in the possession of the King’s mother, St. Margaret of Scotland (born Margaret of Wessex, she was the wife of King Malcolm III of Scotland). For many years, the Scottish royals chose to live in the guesthouse at the Abbey, instead of the more fortress-like Edinburgh Castle at the opposite end of the Royal Mile. The first palace on the site was built by King James IV in 1501-1505 and was enlarged by King James V in 1528-1536.

Mary, Queen of Scots. source: Wikipedia

Perhaps the most well-known resident of the Palace of Holyroodhouse was Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary took up residence in 1561 and would remain at Holyroodhouse until her abdication in 1567. She married Lord Darnley in the palace chapel in 1565, and then married her third husband, The Earl of Bothwell, in 1567 in the great hall. The palace was also the site of the murder of David Rizzio, in the Queen’s apartments in the northwest tower, in 1566.

By the beginning of the 17th century, the Sovereigns spent little time at Holyroodhouse. In 1646, King Charles I appointed a hereditary Keeper of Holyroodhouse to oversee the property. The Dukes of Hamilton holds this position to this day, although it is merely ceremonial now. It would be over 175 years before the Palace of Holyroodhouse was once again used as a formal residence for the Sovereign.

From 1671-1678, the palace was rebuilt and restored after years of neglect and several fires. The result was the building that we see today. It was used for many years as grace-and-favour residences for members of the nobility. It also housed some foreign royals. Following the French Revolution, King George III provided apartments at the palace for the Comte d’Artois, the brother of the French king Louis XVI, who lived there from 1796 until 1803. He later returned again in 1830 before moving to Austria in 1832.

It was during this time that the Palace began its return to glory as a royal residence. King George IV visited the palace in 1822, the first reigning monarch to do so since King Charles I in the mid-1600s. Although he did not stay there, he held several functions and instructed that necessary repairs be made, and the palace be updated. He ordered that the apartments of Mary, Queen of Scots, remain unaltered and be preserved as they were, and to remain so forever.

It was King William IV, in 1834, who made provided a home at the palace for the High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. The High Commissioner (whoever is appointed), continues to have use of apartments at the palace during the sitting of the Assembly. The Queen herself has opened the Assembly several times, and each of her four children has served as High Commissioner.

Queen Victoria first visited Holyroodhouse in 1850, and a few years later, part of the palace was formally opened to the public for tours. Slowly, the royal household began clearing out the many grace-and-favour residents, and The Queen was able to reside at the palace for the first time in 1871.

King George V is credited with the modernization of the palace, with heating and electricity being added prior to his first visit in 1911. And in 1920, he had the palace formally designated as the Sovereign’s official residence in Scotland. He and Queen Mary began the tradition of spending a week each year at the palace and hosted the first garden party in the palace gardens in 1928.

Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh arrive at the palace, June 2015. source: The Daily Mail

The late Queen Elizabeth II spent a week at Holyroodhouse each year at the end of June and the beginning of July. Upon her arrival, an ancient ceremony – The Presentation of the Keys of the City of Edinburgh – took place in the palace forecourt. The Lord Provost welcomed Her Majesty and presents her with the great key of the city. The Queen accepted the key and then hands it back to the Provost to be kept safe until her next visit.

During Holyrood Week, Queen Elizabeth II held an investiture in the Great Gallery, and she and the Duke of Edinburgh hosted nearly 8,000 people for a garden party on the grounds. While in Edinburgh, The Sovereign attends a service for the Order of the Thistle at the nearby St. Giles’ Cathedral and hosts a luncheon for members in the Throne Room at the palace. The Sovereign also hosts official visits, including the First Minister of Scotland, and other dignitaries. In 2010, Queen Elizabeth II welcomed Pope Benedict XVI as part of his State Visit to the United Kingdom.

The former Prince of Wales, as Duke of Rothesay – now King Charles III – also stayed at Holyroodhouse for a week each year, and other members of the Royal Family stay there occasionally when in Scotland. In July 2011, many of the Royal Family were in residence for the wedding of Zara Phillips, daughter of The Princess Royal, and Mike Tindall, who married at the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh.

The bedchamber of Mary, Queen of Scots. source: The Royal Collection

The bedchamber of Mary, Queen of Scots. source: The Royal Collection

The chambers of Mary, Queen of Scots, are perhaps the palace’s biggest attraction for visitors. Located on the second floor of the northwest tower, they consist of an audience chamber with two turret rooms (one of which was her private dining room), the Queen’s bedchamber and an outer chamber. In the outer chamber was the Queen’s oratory, a prayer niche. It was here that David Rizzio was savagely murdered by Lord Darnley and his supporters. Immediately below, on the first floor, are a series of matching rooms, which were used by Lord Darnley. The two bedrooms were joined by a private spiral staircase.

The State apartments are primarily located on the first floor of the southern and eastern wings of the palace, while the private apartments of The Sovereign and members of the royal family are located on the second floor. The State Rooms include the Throne Room, the Evening Drawing Room, the Morning Drawing Room, and the Great Gallery.

The Throne Room was previously used as the Guard Hall at the time of King George IV’s visit in 1822. Today, it is used for formal events, including the luncheon for Knights and Ladies of the Order of the Thistle.

Queen Elizabeth II with the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, in the Evening Drawing Room, 2015. source: The Daily Mail

The Morning and Evening Drawing Rooms are used today for private audiences with The Queen.

 

The Great Gallery is the largest room in the palace and had once joined the King’s and Queen’s apartments in the east and west wings of the palace. It is decorated with 110 portraits of real, and legendary, Scottish monarchs. During the residence of the Comte d’Artois, it was used as a Catholic chapel. Today, it is used for Investiture ceremonies, banquets, and other larger functions.

Learn more about the other British Royal Residences here!

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Royal Lodge, Windsor

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2015

source: The Daily Mail

source: The Daily Mail

Royal Lodge

Set on 40 hectares within Windsor Great Park, Royal Lodge has been the official residence of The Duke of York since 2004. It is perhaps best known as the residence of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who lived there for over 70 years until her death in 2002.

There appears to have been a house on the property as far back as the mid-1600s, and by the mid- 1700s, it was used as part of an adjacent dairy. At different times, it was known as Lower Lodge, Great Lodge, and Dairy Lodge. It then became the home of the Deputy Ranger of Windsor Great Park and was known as the Deputy Ranger’s House.

In 1812, the Prince Regent (later King George IV) used the house as temporary lodgings while he undertook the rebuilding of nearby Cumberland Lodge, which was his intended residence. The house became known as the Prince Regent’s Cottage. He expanded the house, which then became known as King’s Cottage following his accession, with the intention of using it to house guests during Royal Ascot. In 1825, the Royal Chapel of All Saints was built, as the chapels in both the King’s Cottage and Cumberland Lodge were too small to accommodate the household. Around this time, the house became known as Royal Lodge.

When William IV became King in 1830, he ordered the demolition of the house and had it rebuilt more in the style which we see today. For the next 100 years, it was used primarily as a residence for officers of the Royal Household.

Y Bwthyn Bach, in the grounds of Royal Lodge. source: The Daily Mail

Y Bwthyn Bach, on the grounds of Royal Lodge. source: The Daily Mail

In 1931, King George V gave the house to the Duke and Duchess of York (the future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth) as a country retreat. Two wings were added on each side, and the grounds were also developed further. Two lodges were constructed at the entrance to the estate, with three smaller cottages on either side of them. The following year, the people of Wales gave a small cottage – Y Bwthyn Bach – to then-Princess Elizabeth. The cottage sits on the grounds of Royal Lodge and was a favorite play site of Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, as well as later generations. The cottage was recently restored and updated by Princess Beatrice of York.

 

After their accession in 1936, George VI and Elizabeth took up residence at Windsor Castle but continued to use Royal Lodge regularly. Following the King’s death in 1952, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother returned to Royal Lodge and made it her home for the remainder of her life. It was here, on March 30, 2002, that The Queen Mother passed away, at the age of 101.  The property was returned to the Crown Estate.

Following extensive renovations, Royal Lodge became the home of Prince Andrew, The Duke of York in 2004, who leased the property from the Crown Estate on a 75-year lease. In lieu of annual rent, it was agreed that he would make a one-time payment of £1million, as well as paying for the renovation in full (a project with exceeded £7.5million).

Learn more about the other British Royal Residences here!

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Bagshot Park

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2015

source: The Daily Mail

source: The Daily Mail

Bagshot Park

Bagshot Park is the residence of The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and their family. It is comprised of 21 hectares within Windsor Great Park, near the village of Bagshot, Surrey, and includes the Mansion House, a block of stables, and several lodges. The property is owned by the Crown Estate, and has been leased to Prince Edward since March 1998. There are also two farms on the greater area of Bagshot Park, but these are not part of the property leased to the Earl and are independently managed by the Crown Estate.

The area now known as Bagshot Park was a favorite hunting ground of the Stuart kings, and several hunting lodges have been located there. The original house – known as Bagshot Lodge, was built in the 1630s as part of a series of small lodges for King Charles I. For many years, the house was leased by the Crown. One notable tenant was George Keppel, 3rd Earl of Albermarle (a distant relative of Queen Camilla), who lived there in the 1760s and 1770s, and made significant renovations to the property.

the original house, c1790. source: Wikipedia

In 1798, the Mansion House was altered again for the Duke of Clarence (later King William IV) who lived there until 1816. At that point, Bagshot Park became the home of The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester following their wedding. The Duchess was Princess Mary, daughter of King George III, and her husband (and first cousin) was Prince William Frederick, son of Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh, a brother of King George III. The Duchess retained Bagshot Park until her death in 1857. In the early 1860s, the property was given to Sir James Clark, Queen Victoria’s physician, upon his retirement. He lived there until his death in 1870.

A new house was built between 1875-1879, consisting of over 120 rooms, and the old house was demolished. Following his marriage, Bagshot Park became the home of Queen Victoria’s third son, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn and his wife, Princess Luise Margarete of Prussia. The Duke would remain at Bagshot Park until his death there in 1942.

After World War II, Bagshot was leased to the Ministry of Defense and was used to house the Army Chaplains Department. They remained there until 1996 when the leasehold was returned to the Crown. Soon after, Prince Edward expressed an interest in the estate and decided to lease the property from the Crown Estate.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children, photographed in the dining room at Bagshot Park for the Earl’s 50th birthday, 2014. source: Zimbio

Under the terms of the agreement, the property first needed extensive renovations which cost just under £ 3 million. The Crown contributed £1.6 million (received from the Ministry of Defense when they released the property), and Edward contributed the remaining £1.4 million. During the renovations, the rent was set at £5,000 per year and rose to £90,000 per year once the work was finished.

Learn more about the other British Royal Residences here!

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Frogmore House

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2015

source: Wikipedia, Gill Hicks

Frogmore House

Frogmore House is located on the Frogmore Estate in the private Home Park of Windsor Castle. Set on 33 acres, Frogmore was a favorite retreat of Queen Victoria. Within the grounds are the Royal Burial Ground, the Royal Mausoleum of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and the mausoleum for Queen Victoria’s mother, The Duchess of Kent. While no longer used as a residence, Frogmore House and the grounds are occasionally used by members of the Royal Family for official events and receptions, as well as private family functions.

Frogmore House was built between 1680-1684 and was leased out for many years. From 1709 until 1738, it was leased to George FitzRoy, Duke of Northumberland, an illegitimate son of King Charles II. Later tenants also included Edward Walpole, son of the Prime Minister. After taking the lease for several years, King George III purchased Frogmore for Queen Charlotte in 1792, to use as a retreat. Of course, renovations were needed to make it suitable for a royal residence, and the architect James Wyatt was hired to enlarge the house. The second floor was enlarged, and single-floor pavilions were added on the north and south sides of the house. These were later expanded to make room for a dining room and library to the south, and matching rooms to the north.

Queen Charlotte with King George III and their six eldest children. source: Wikipedia

Queen Charlotte took great interest in the gardens, and is credited with much of the landscape which exists today. She and her daughters often spent time at Frogmore, indulging in their artistic pursuits, and some of their artwork is displayed throughout the house. The Queen had one of the principal rooms decorated by Mary Moser, a noted 18th century painter of flowers. The room is designed to look like an arbor open to the outside.

Following Queen Charlotte’s death in 1818, Frogmore was left to her daughter, Princess Augusta Sophia, who lived there until her death in 1840. The following year, Queen Victoria gave Frogmore to her mother, The Duchess of Kent, who died there in 1861. The house was then used occasionally by members of the Royal Family. Princess Alexandra, wife of the future King Edward VII, gave birth to her eldest son, Prince Albert Victor (Eddy) at Frogmore House in 1864. From 1866 until 1872, it was the home of Princess Helena, 3rd daughter of Queen Victoria, and her husband, Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein. During the reign of King Edward VII, the house was used by the future King George V and Queen Mary. And in 1923, the future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth spent part of their honeymoon at Frogmore.

Perhaps most associated with Frogmore is Queen Mary. From 1925 (following the death of the Dowager Queen Alexandra) until her own death in 1953, Queen Mary spent large amounts of time at Frogmore, arranging and cataloging many of the royal treasures that she acquired. These efforts have transformed the house into, in her own words, “a family souvenir museum, as well as a museum of bygones and of interesting odds and ends.” She also reworked some of the gardens

The Duke of Edinburgh has also contributed to Frogmore. Following the decommissioning of the Royal Yacht Britannia in 1997, the Duke designed the Britannia Room (formerly Queen Charlotte’s library, and Queen Mary’s dining room), displaying items that reflect the interior of the yacht. Prominent in the room is a large mahogany table which was made for the yacht in the 1950s.

 

Today, Frogmore House is occasionally used by the Royal Family for meetings and receptions, as well as private functions. In 2008, it was the site of the reception following the wedding of The Queen’s eldest grandson, Peter Phillips, and Autumn Kelly, and in 2018, hosted the evening reception following the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Other buildings on the grounds include:

Queen Victoria’s Tea House. photo courtesy of TripAdvisor

– Queen Victoria’s Tea House, where The Queen often took her tea or lunch, and worked on her red boxes.

Frogmore Cottage, as seen in 1872. source: Wikipedia

– Frogmore Cottage, which has often been used as a grace and favour residence. Initially a retreat for the daughters of Queen Charlotte, later residents included the American theologian Henry James, Sr in the 1840s, and Abdul Karim, Queen Victoria’s Indian servant, from 1897 until 1901. From 1925 until 1936, King George loaned the cottage to his first cousin, Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia and her family.  And in 2018, it was announced the Frogmore Cottage, following an extensive renovation, would become the official residence of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.  The couple took up residence in early April 2019, prior to the birth of their first child.  The cottage changed from the Sussexes “official residence” to “private residence” as of April 2021, when the couple stepped down from official duties on behalf of the Royal Family.  In addition to reimbursing the Crown Estate 2.4 million pounds for the cost of renovations, the Sussexes also pay a commercial rent monthly for the property.

The Duchess of Kent Mausoleum. source: Wikipedia, WyrdLight.com

– The Duchess of Kent Mausoleum, which is the burial site of Queen Victoria’s mother, The Duchess of Kent. When construction began, it was intended that the top part of the building would serve as a summer house for the Duchess, while the lower part was designed to be her final resting place. However, the Duchess died before construction was completed, and the upper portion became part of the mausoleum.

The Royal Mausoleum and Royal Burial Ground. source: Wikipedia, Gill Hicks

– The Royal Mausoleum, which is the final resting place of Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert. It was built in 1861-1862 following the death of Prince Albert, and contains the couple’s large marble tomb. There are also several memorials to other members of the Queen’s family, including her daughter Princess Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse, and her father, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.

Surrounding the Royal Mausoleum is the Royal Burial Ground. It was established in 1928, and eight members of the royal family, previously interred in the Royal Crypt at St. George’s Chapel, were reburied here. It has become traditional for non-reigning members of the royal family to be buried here.

Learn more about the other British Royal Residences here!

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Marlborough House

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2015

source: Commonwealth Secretariat

source: Commonwealth Secretariat

Marlborough House

Marlborough House was last used as a royal residence for Queen Mary of the United Kingdom, who lived there until her death in 1953. It is located just east of St. James’s Palace in London.

Marlborough House, c1750. source: Wikipedia

Although it was built on Crown land, Marlborough House wasn’t originally intended to be a royal residence. It was built in the early 1700s for Sarah Churchill, The Duchess of Marlborough and close confidante of Queen Anne of the United Kingdom. The land was then part of the grounds of St. James’s Palace, facing Pall Mall, and backing up onto The Mall. The noted architect Christopher Wren and his son designed the house to the specifications of the Duchess. Marlborough House would serve as the London residence of the Dukes of Marlborough until 1817 when it was taken over by the Crown.

That year it became the London residence of Princess Charlotte of Wales and her husband, Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg (later King Leopold I of the Belgians). Sadly, Princess Charlotte died later that year, and Leopold only used the home occasionally in the following years. Following the accession of King William IV in 1830, Marlborough House was given to his wife, Queen Adelaide, for the remainder of her life. After her death in 1849, it housed the National Art Training School (now the Royal College of Art) from 1852-1861. Following a two-year renovation, which included the addition of rooms on the north side as well as a large porch, Marlborough House became the London residence of the newly married Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) and his wife, Princess Alexandra of Denmark, in 1863. Several of their children were born here, including the future King George V in 1865. Marlborough House also became the center of London society, with Edward and Alexandra’s close circle of friends becoming known as the Marlborough House Set.

Edward and Alexandra moved to Buckingham Palace following his accession in 1901, and Marlborough House became the home of the new Prince and Princess of Wales (later King George V and Queen Mary). Following Edward VII’s death in 1910, George and Mary moved to Buckingham Palace, and the Dowager Queen Alexandra returned to her beloved Marlborough House, where she would remain until her death in 1925. (Click here for a photo of Queen Alexandra’s bedroom, c1912, from the Royal Collection Trust.) Some changes were made the property, including the relocation of the main entrance gate which originally sat on Pall Mall. The entrance was moved to Marlborough Road, which passes between Marlborough House and St. James’s Palace. Following the death of King George V in 1936, Queen Mary returned to Marlborough House where she remained until her death in 1953.

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother had expressed her desire to move there following her husband’s death in 1952, but it was determined that Marlborough House would need extensive refurbishment and would be too expensive to maintain. Clarence House, which had recently been renovated for then-Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, was instead where The Queen Mother would make her home for the remainder of her life.

The Queen attends the Commonwealth Day Reception at Marlborough House, 2010. source: Zimbio

Queen Elizabeth II attends the Commonwealth Day Reception at Marlborough House, 2010. source: Zimbio

In 1959, Queen Elizabeth II gave Marlborough House to the British government to be used for the Commonwealth. It has been the home of the Commonwealth Secretariat since its establishment in 1965 and also houses the Commonwealth Foundation. As well as being the working home of the Commonwealth, Marlborough House often hosts conferences and summit meetings of the Commonwealth Heads of Government. There is also a reception every year on Commonwealth Day, which is attended by King Charles III in his role as Head of the Commonwealth.

Marlborough House, as seen from The Mall. source: Wikipedia

The Marlborough House Gardens, at the back of the house overlooking The Mall, contain a thatched-roof rotating summer house built for Queen Mary, as well as Queen Alexandra’s pet cemetery.

Learn more about the other British Royal Residences here!

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.