Inside the VERY lavish royal homes, including Kate Middleton’s plush living room and a fully functional Wendy house
WITH gold pianos and fully-functional Wendy houses, these royal residences are certainly fit for a queen, prince or princess.
Although they are notoriously private, the royals give us mere mortals a glimpse inside their luxury homes when they open the doors for official photos. Here’s a little nosy inside how the other half live…
1. Kensington Palace
We were given a sneak peak inside Kate Middleton and Prince William’s family home when they opened the doors to the Obamas back in 2016.
The parents-of-three spent months renovating Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace before moving in – knocking through walls to bring the room count down from 30 to 20.
The royal residence, in west London, has been tastefully decorated with cream carpets and floral cushions.
Lamps and candles, as well as Prince George’s adorable rocking chair, give their living room a homely vibe, while gold-framed paintings remind us this is no ordinary home.
Also currently home to Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, Kensington Palace was bought by the royals for £20,000 in 1689.
The King’s Gallery, with stunning painted ceiling, red walls and 16th and 17th century Italian portraits, is the real gem of the stately home.
2. Frogmore Cottage
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry never released any images from inside their Windsor home, Frogmore Cottage, following a £2.4 million refurbishment.
The cottage now boasts a £4,000 outdoor seating and BBQ area, a ‘gender neutral’ grey nursery and baby-friendly yoga studio, according to reports.
Meghan and Harry moved to LA this year, but Frogmore Cottage remains their UK base.
3. The Welsh House
The Queen was given The Welsh House, or Y Bythyn Bach, for her sixth birthday, and it’s no ordinary Wendy house.
The fully-functional cottage features a kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom – with hot running water, electricity and a heated towel rail.
There was even a bookshelf, stacked high with Beatrix Potter stories, a mini radio and a tea set she could enjoy with her sister Princess Margaret.
The house was in the grounds of Royal Lodge, Windsor Castle.
4. Highgrove House
Highgrove is now Prince Charles and Camilla’s country retreat – although Harry and Wills spent a lot of time here with mum Diana as kids.
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, the estate was bought by the Duchy of Cornwall in 1980 and remodelled by Charles.
The Georgian Manor boasts 347 acres, nine bedrooms and six bathrooms – as well as a nursery wing and staff quarters.
5. Clarence House
The couple’s London residence is Clarence House, which was pictured after Prince Louis’ christening back in the summer.
The Chippendale gold-lined sofa, blue and bronze patterned Axminster rug and touching portrait of Charles’ mother the Queen could all be seen in the official snaps.
Previously home to the Queen Mother, and Prince William before his 2011 marriage, the Westminster manor sits on an impressive four storeys – not counting the attic or basement.
6. Balmoral Castle
Set among mountains and lochs, Balmoral is the Queen’s Scottish retreat, which she once referred to as “a paradise in the Highlands”.
Set in 50,000 acres of private land, the Queen normally aims to spend two months each year here – among the Highland cattle, herds of deer and ponies.
Prince Albert purchased the estate in 1852, but the castle was deemed to be too small, and a new one was built in its wake – constructed from granite quarried at Invergelder, on the grounds.
It’s comprised of two main blocks and a central courtyard and has an 80-foot clock tower topped with turrets.
7. Buckingham Palace
As the Queen’s official residence, most of us are familiar with Buckingham Palace.
Her Majesty has been filmed inside the Regency Room, 1844 Room and, most recently, her grand White Drawing room – where her gold piano sparked a backlash on Twitter, even though she inherited it.
The piano was bought by Queen Victoria in 1856 and is decorated with oil painted scenes and cherubs.
Although the Queen is always keen to show the importance of family, with strategically placed photos during her annual Christmas broadcast, the grand oak desks, white fireplaces and gold candlesticks are hard to miss.
The Queen’s grand ballroom, which is often opened up to the public, is also a show of opulence – with red rose carpets and gold chandeliers.
Built by the Duke of Buckingham in 1703, the palace has 775 rooms and features the largest private garden in London.
8. Sandringham House
Sandringham is the Queen’s winter retreat, and every Christmas our monarch stays in this Grade II listed manor until the anniversary of her dad King George VI’s death – on February 6 – has passed.
Various royals drop into visit over the festive period, although the house is considered small by the Queen’s standards – meaning guests often have to stay in the servants’ quarters.
9. Windsor Castle
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Photos from Meghan and Harry’s May 2018 royal wedding reveal the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.
With a grand mirrored fireplace, gold-plated doors, candlesticks and mirrors, and a stunning blue and red patterned carpet, the room is royal down to a tee.
The Berkshire castle was built in the 11th century and is the largest-inhabited and longest-occupied castle in the world – with around 500 people living and working there.
The Queen is very fond of the castle and spends much of her time there.