Secret Houses of the Royals

Secret Houses of the Royals takes readers on a tour around the British Isles visiting the various cottages, stately homes, mansions and castles either owned, rented or visited by the extended royal family. Spanning the last 150 years, Hugo Vickers explores 25 locations, outlining the history of each building, the stories of the royals who lived there, and what has come of each. Some are still owned by the Crown, where others are now owned by Trusts or governmental bodies. Each has a unique and often dramatic narrative, and an interior to match. Combining archive imagery with new, specially commissioned photography, these are royal homes as you’ve never seen them before.
 

1. Marlborough House – now Headquarters of the Commonwealth
The Prince & Princess of Wales (later Edward VII & Queen Alexandra), The Prince & Princess of Wales (later George V & Queen Mary), Queen Alexandra in widowhood, Queen Mary (in widowhood) – now the headquarters of the Commonwealth
 
2. Frogmore House, Windsor Great Park – owned by the Crown, but currently unoccupied
Queen Adelaide, Princess Victoria, Duchess of Kent (mother of Queen Victoria)
 
3. Schomberg House, Pall Mall – part of the Oxford & Cambridge Club
Princess Christian (daughter of Queen Victoria), Princess Helena Victoria and Princess Marie Louise (granddaughters of Queen Victoria), now part of the Oxford & Cambridge Club
 
4. Abergeldie Castle, Balmoral – owned by the Crown, but currently unoccupied
 
5. Birkhall, Balmoral – Scottish home of The Prince of Wales
The Duke & Duchess of York, then The Queen Mother in widowhood, now The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall
 
6. Altanaguisach, Loch Muick – owned by the Crown, but currently unoccupied
Used by Queen Victoria, and still used by the Royal Family
 
7. Craigowan Lodge, Balmoral
Used by The Prince and Princess of Wales, and by The Queen when she arrives in Scotland before Balmoral closes to the public.
 
8. The Castle of Mey, Wick – owned by a Trust
Bought and restored by The Queen Mother in 1953. Now a Trust.
 
9. Mar Lodge, Braemar – privately owned
Princess Louise (daughter of Queen Victoria), Duchess of Fife, and Princess Arthur of Connaught
 
10. Bagshot Park
The Duke of Connaught, and now The Earl and Countess of Wessex
 
11. Fort Belvedere, Sunningdale – privately owned (Galen Weston)
The Prince of Wales (later The Duke of Windsor), then Hon Gerald Lascelles (son of Princess Mary, The Princess Royal)
 
12. Cumberland Lodge, Windsor Great Park – now a conference centre, run by a Trust
Prince & Princess Christian and their family – Princess Helena was the fifth daughter of Queen Victoria
 
13. Chevening, Kent – run by a Trust
Briefly home to the Prince of Wales
 
14. Highgrove
The Prince of Wales
 
15. Gatcombe Park
The Princess Royal
 
16. Harewood House – open to the public
Princess Mary (The Princess Royal), the Earl and Countess of Harewood
 
17. Goldsborough Hall – privately owned?
An earlier home of Princess Mary
 
18. Brantridge Park – privately owned?
The Earl & Countess of Athlone, Princess Beatrice
 
19. Osborne House, Isle of Wight – open to the public (HRP)
Queen Victoria & Prince Albert, and then Queen Victoria in widowhood
 
20. Albert Cottage, Osborne – now a hotel
Princess Beatrice (daughter of Queen Victoria) until 1913 – now an hotel
 
21. Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight – open to the public (HRP)
Princess Beatrice as Governor of the Isle of Wight
 
22. Barnwell Manor, Northamptonshire – owned by the Duke, but rented out
The Duke & Duchess of Gloucester, then Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester in widowhood, and the present Duke & Duchess of Gloucester. Still owned by them, but rented out.
 
23. Coppins, Iver – privately owned
Princess Victoria (daughter of George V), Prince George, Duke of Kent & Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, then Princess Marina in widowhood (1942-1962), then the Duke and Duchess of Kent until about 1970.
 
24. White Lodge, Richmond – Royal School of Ballet
The Duke & Duchess of Teck – the future Edward VIII was born there.
 
25. Broadlands – open to the public, owned by Lord Mountbatten
Earl Mountbatten lived there – it was a Lady Mountbatten house – The Queen honeymooned there
 
26. Glamis Castle – open to the public, owned by Earl of Strathmore
The Queen Mother’s childhood home (one of them)