Where does The Queen live now?
After 70 years on the throne, The Queen remains steadfast as the head of the Royal Family.
And it seems her grandson Prince William and Kate Middleton – formally Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge – are considering making the big move from London to be closer to her.
Such a drastic move, if completed, would mean new schools for future king Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
But wait… The Queen isn’t living in London? That’s right. Her Majesty is not currently based in the capital, as she opts to spend her time at another of her many fabulous homes.
So, where exactly does The Queen currently live?
Where does The Queen live now?
The Queen has lived at Buckingham Palace in Central London for the vast majority of her lengthy reign.
However, since March 2020, The Queen’s main residence has been the 950-year-old Windsor Castle.
The Queen and Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh retreated to the Berkshire town of Windsor when the pandemic began – and remained at the castle together prior to his April 2021 passing.
Her Majesty has lived there since, and reports indicate that Windsor Castle will remain The Queen’s home for the foreseeable future.
Royal author Hugo Vickers has said: ‘Windsor is the place she loves. She has her memories with Prince Philip there, she has her ponies there and family nearby. It makes sense.’
Indeed, her son Prince Andrew has lived at the Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park since 2004 – while granddaughter Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank reside at Frogmore Cottage.
Meanwhile, son Prince Edward and Sophie, The Countess of Wessex are just a 20-minute drive away in Bagshot Park, Surrey, where they have lived since marrying in 1999.
Another plausible reason for preferring Windsor? Buckingham Palace is also undergoing renovations, expected to last until 2027.
Where else does The Queen have homes in the UK?
Should The Queen ever wish to leave the comfort of Windsor, she has plenty more magnificent homes to choose from.
In England, she privately owns the sprawling Sandringham Estate in Norfolk – which is where Royal Family Christmases are often spent.
In Scotland, her official residence is Edinburgh’s Palace of Holyroodhouse, while The Queen and family tend to spend summer enjoying the great outdoors at Balmoral Castle.
And in Northern Ireland, her official residence is Hillsborough Castle, which is located in County Down.
Interestingly, there is no official home for The Queen in Wales – though Prince Charles, who is The Prince of Wales, does stay at Llwynywermod, which is owned by The Duchy of Cornwall.
And although The Queen does not personally live in them, The Crown Estate owns a number of properties, among them London’s Kensington Palace, Clarence House and St James’s Palace.
Where did The Queen live as Princess Elizabeth?
Prior to becoming Queen and moving into Buckingham Palace, the then-Princess Elizabeth lived in a number of places.
She was born in a house – not a hospital – on 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair, London in 1926.
The family lived at 145 Piccadilly, a five-storey house once near London’s Hyde Park, but was sadly destroyed during the Second World War.
It seems that as a child, The Queen lived in a number of residences, including Hatfield House in Hertfordshire.
But following her uncle’s abdication in 1936, The Queen’s father assumed the throne and officially became King George VI – and the family moved into Buckingham palace.
But after marrying Prince Philip in 1947, then-Princess Elizabeth had two official homes.
One was their marital home in London – Clarence House – and another was in Valletta on the island of Malta.
From 1949 to 1951, Prince Philip was stationed in Malta with the Royal Navy, and the couple lived at Villa Guardamangia in the Maltese capital – a still-standing building set to become a museum.
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