Earlier this week, the British Royal Family grew in number by one tiny princess with a big title: Her Royal Highness Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge. Princess Charlotte, born to Britain’s Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is fourth in line to the British throne and will grow up in a rarified atmosphere of opulent palaces and castles. Although the newest Royal will live a privileged lifestyle that few of us will ever know, many of the lavish royal residences in Britain are actually open to the public so we can take a peek into the royal experience, if only for a short time.
Kensington Palace – Royal Residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Princess Charlotte’s first home is Kensington Palace in London. Kensington Palace became a royal palace in 1689 when King William and Queen Mary jointly took the throne. Queen Victoria grew up there and Princess Diana, Charlotte’s grandmother, lived there after her divorce from Prince Charles. Kensington Palace is also currently the home of Charlotte’s gregarious uncle, Prince Harry.
The public can visit the grand chambers of the King’s and Queen’s State Apartments (fee) where William and Mary entertained and relaxed. The spectacular 18th-century murals of the King’s staircase are a must-see. Changing exhibitions in the palace highlight royal themes such as Queen Victoria or the dresses of Princess Diana.
Outside, the large and lovely palace gardens include the Round Pond, Sunken Gardens, and Cradle Walk – all open to the public free of charge and a relaxing place for a picnic.
Buckingham Palace – Royal Residence to The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh
The official London residence of little Charlotte’s great-grandmother, Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth, is Buckingham Palace. It is massive in size with 775 rooms, including 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms. Only 19 resplendent State Rooms including the Throne Room, Ballroom, and the State Dining Room are open for public visits (fee) August – September when The Queen is not in residence. Travel Maestro tip: When The Queen is in residence, the Royal Standard flies over Buckingham Palace. When the Sovereign is not present, the Union Flag flies instead.
Also at Buckingham Palace, The Queen’s Gallery (fee) features rotating exhibitions of art, furnishings, jewelry, and manuscripts from the royal collection. The Royal Mews (fee) is one of the world’s finest examples of a working stable. In addition to the 30 or so carriage horses housed there, visitors can see a permanent display of state vehicles, including the magnificent Golden State Coach. Travel Maestro tip: The ‘Royal Day Out’ ticket offers a slight discount on admission to all three Buckingham Palace entrances in one day.
The changing of the guard is a famous ritual at Buckingham Palace full of military pomp and grandeur. It takes place daily at 11:00 a.m. May – July and every other day for the remainder of the year. Travel Maestro tip: There is no fee, but you’ll want to arrive early for good viewing.
Sandringham House – A Regal Country Estate
Princess Charlotte’s first couple months will be spent in the country at Anmer Hall, a private 10-bedroom home on the queen’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, England. The Royal Family often spends Christmas at Sandringham as well, and The Queen resides there from Christmas until February. Other than when the royals are in residence, the public can tour most of the rooms of the house, but even when the house and gardens are closed to the public, a museum in the old stables, the estate’s church, 240 acres of woodlands and trails are open for visiting.
Balmoral Castle – A Favorite Royal Residence
During the summer, if Princess Charlotte wants to visit her great-grandmother, she’ll find her in the highlands of Scotland at Balmoral Castle, Queen Elizabeth’s favorite retreat. It is a hunting lodge, bought for Queen Victoria by her husband Prince Albert in 1852. From mid-August through September while The Queen is in residence, it is unavailable to visitors, but other times tours that include only the Ballroom of the Castle, the gardens, and stables are offered (fee).
Windsor Castle – A Royal Weekend Getaway
This ancient and imposing castle has the distinction of being the largest inhabited castle in the world and the only one continuously used by the British Royals since the Middle Ages. Queen Elizabeth II likes to spend weekends there, but public areas are still open most of the time. Tour highlights include St. George’s Chapel, Albert Memorial Chapel, Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, and the state apartments. A formal garden—the first in more than 100 years—opened in 2002 to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s 50 years on the throne.
Little Princess Charlotte will undoubtedly grow up with privileges far beyond those that most of us ever experience, but Covington Travel has an exclusive source to put you in accommodations fit for royalty. We invite you to peruse the Virtuoso 2020 Guide to the World’s Best Hotel Experiences with our compliments.
If this guide inspires you, please contact our luxury vacation advisors who will ensure you are treated like a queen (or king) on your next vacation!
You might also enjoy these other Travel Maestro blogs about Great Britain:
4 Proven Ways to Explore Interesting England
Exciting Filming Locations in the UK That Will Put You in the Movies
Visit Highclere Castle for a Taste of the Real Downton Abbey
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