Homes Fit For A King
Oh, to be able to spend a weekend relaxing in one of my many castles. Being one of the oldest monarchies in the world, the British royal family has no shortage of palatial real estate to choose from. Fans of Netflix's The Crown will likely recognize some of the buildings on this list, while others are more obscure, being closed off to the public.
1. St. James's Palace
A stone's throw from Buckingham Palace is the commanding red-brick complex of St. James's Palace. Built by Henry VIII, St. James's Palace was the official royal residence until the reign of Queen Victoria. Today, Princesses Anne and Alexandra call this palace their London Home.
2. Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace was the site of the birth and childhood of one of the most influential royals of all time: Queen Victoria. Once given the unflattering nickname "the aunt heap" due to it being a sort of sanctuary for aging minor royals, Kensington is now the London home of William and Kate. Following Diana's scandalous divorce, Kensington remained the official residence of the Peoples' Princess until her untimely passing.
3. Windsor Castle
With over 1000 rooms, Windsor Castle is the largest occupied castle in the world! Founded by William the Conquerer almost a millennium ago, Windsor Castle effortlessly blends various architectural styles. Windsor Castle was the preferred home of Queen Elizabeth II as both a private and official residence.
4. Royal Lodge
A few miles south of Windsor Castle, the Royal Lodge was a beloved country home of George VI and the Queen Mother. Since his removal from royal duties in 2019, Prince Andrew has lain low in this 30-room house he's been leasing for over a decade. Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, also allegedly lives at the lodge, albeit in a different wing.
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5. Sandringham House
Sandringham House isn't so much a "house" as it is a larger estate. Comprised of over 300 houses across 13 village, Sandringham is the traditional holiday home of the royal family. On the estate is the 10-bedroom Anmer Hall which the late queen gave William & Kate as a wedding gift.
6. Hampton Court
Growing up royal can mean living in a gilded cage, as teenage Elizabeth I would have told you. The future queen was held under house arrest at Hampton Court Palace by her half-sister, Mary. Unfortunately, much of the original Tudor architecture was damaged in the early 1690s when William III planned to rebuild the palace to rival Versailles.
7. Holyroodhouse
Holyroodhouse has a somewhat unusual past as it began as a monastery in the 1100s. Once home to Mary, Queen of Scots, Holyrood is the official royal residence in Scotland. The palace is open to visitors year-round and hosts Holyrood Week, a celebration of Scottish culture.
8. Adelaide Cottage
This "chastely elegant" cottage was built for Queen Adelaide in 1831 and is the current residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales. Adelaide Cottage is located on the grounds of Windsor Castle and incorporates materials from previous royal residence. William and Kate chose this property to give their children as normal of a life as one can have when in line for the throne.
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9. Ivy Cottage
Originally housing servants on the grounds of Kensington Palace, Ivy Cottage saw a significant upgrade in its tenants in 2018. Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, moved from Kensington Palace to Ivy Cottage in 2018, the first home the pair purchased together. Eugenie and Jack lived full-time in the cottage for two years and now divide their time between England and Portugal.
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10. Clarence House
Named for William, Duke of Clarence (the future William IV), this pastel London home was heavily damaged during The Blitz. After much reconstruction, Clarence House was reopened for the reign of Elizabeth II. Clarence House is the de facto London residence for the current King and Queen while Buckingham Palace is under reconstruction.
11. Balmoral Castle
Queen Elizabeth II's beloved country home is located in the Scottish Highlands. With us peasants may go to Disney or a cottage for our summer vacation, the royals head to Balmoral. This quintessential Victorian estate is the go-spot for deer stalking, grouse shooting, and salmon fishing.
12. Dumfries House
This "exceptionally fine and unspoilt" Scottish mansion houses original Chippendale furniture and lushly-painted interiors. Threatened with sale in 2007, Dumfries was purchased by the future king. Today it is open to the public both for tours and weddings.
13. Castle Of Mey
This 16th-century Scottish castle was a ruin when the Queen Mother purchased it in 1952. Not only did she restore the castle to some of its original glory (and original name), but she also installed running water and electricity. Perched on the northwest tip of Scotland, the Castle of Mey provides views of the Orkney Islands on clear days.
14. Thatched House Lodge
Once the home of Britain's first PM, Sir Robert Walpole, Thatched Lodge House has been a royal residence since 1963. The house was leased by Princess Alexandra, who continues to live there, over half a century later. However, the royals were not the only heads of state to sleep within these walls: Dwight D. Eisenhower kept an apartment there during WWII.
15. Bagshot Park
Once criticized as "ugly", Bagshot Park is considered one of the most architecturally adventures royal homes for its Indian inspiration. This should come as no surprise, as Victoria had recently proclaimed herself Empress of India prior to the building's completion. Bagshot Park is the current home of Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
16. Hillsborough Castle
Located in County Down, Hillsborough Castle is the official residence for royals visiting Northern Ireland. Hillsborough is unusual entry on this list as it is an Irish "big house" rather than a castle proper. Hillsborough is also the residence of the secretary of state for Northern Ireland.
17. Frogmore House
Not to be confused with Frogmore Cottage, the former home of Harry and Meghan, this 17th-century country home is nothing to croak about. Frogmore was purchased by George III for the use of his wife Charlotte (of Bridgerton fame) and their daughters. Unoccupied since 1872, Frogmore house sees use for private and official events.
18. Osborne House
Osborne House's inclusion on this list is debatable, as it is no longer used by the royal family, but it's too fabulous to exclude. Located in East Cowes on the Isle of White, Osborne House was a summer retreat for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Victoria stayed at the Isle of Wight as a girl, and commissioned Osborne House as an escape from the stresses of court.
19. Kew Palace
Located within the larger complex of Kew Gardens, Kew Palace's tenure as a royal residence was short-lived, lasting only from 1728 to 1818. Sitting unused and scheduled for demolition, Kew Palace was offered as a residence for Queen (then-Princess) Victoria, but was deemed "an old house quite unfit for [a] princess." Thankfully, some of the complex's structures, such as the bright red Dutch House, survived.
20. Buckingham Palace
The most famous of all the royal family's residences, Buckingham Palace is also reportedly disliked by many of them. Located in central London, this sprawling complex is the official headquarters of the reigning monarch, except during the summer when it is open for tours. 19 of the palace's astounding 775 rooms are open to the public.
