Sandringham House: Inside King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort's country estate
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Sandringham House, standing at the heart of the 8,000 hectare Sandringham Estate, is the private country retreat of King Charles III and The Queen Consort. It is perhaps most widely known for the Royals' Christmas morning walk, where they greet the public en route to the St Mary Magdalene Church.
Upon the death of Her Majesty The Queen in 2022, the Sandringham Estate passed to King Charles – he will be the fifth generation of British monarchs to own the home in a private capacity, rather than as head of state.
The British royal family acquired the estate in 1862, when it was purchased as a country home for a 20-year old Edward VII, then Prince of Wales and his soon-to-be wife, Alexandra of Denmark. They moved in 3 weeks after their marriage in March 1863, before demolishing and rebuilding the old property to make way for the Sandringham House we know today.
Where is Sandringham House?
Sandringham House is located in Sandringham village and civil parish in the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It was the birthplace of Diana, Princess of Wales.
In its entirety, the estate includes 6,400 hectares of farmland, 1,400 hectares of woodland and 80 hectares of orchards, a sawmill, commercial and residential properties – one of which is Amner Hall, the country residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales, given to the couple as a wedding gift by Queen Elizabeth– as well as local parishes and communities.
Does King Charles live at Sandringham House?
Before he became King, Highgrove House was the private residence of Charles and Camilla and the royal couple spent their time between their London property Clarence House and the Gloucestershire manor. Now that Charles is King, he could make Buckingham Palace his main residence. Traditionally, Sandringham House is where the Royals spend Christmas.
In 1957, Queen Elizabeth II gave her first televised Christmas message from Sandringham, marking the 25th anniversary of her grandfather George V’s first royal Christmas broadcast via radio.
The principal rooms within Sandringham House are the saloon – the heart of the home where the Royal family meet on Christmas Eve for an afternoon tea of sponge cakes, scones, sandwiches and a pot of Earl Grey tea – drawing room, ballroom, dining room, library, gun room and billiard room.
The decor and contents remain very much as they were in Edwardian times.
Can you visit Sandringham House?
The main eight ground floor rooms of Sandringham House regularly used by the Royal family are open to the public along with the 280-hectare Sandringham Royal Park woodland. From late spring, the grounds abound with rhododendrons and azaleas and the lawns are immaculately tendered. Way-marked trails are open for cycling or exploring by foot and children can play in a large woodland play area.
The parish church of St Mary Magdalene, which has held memorials to many members and relations of the Royal Family from Queen Victoria onwards is free to visit and open when the House and Gardens are open from April - October.
Private tours can be arranged, which includes access to private areas within the estate like the17-acre Walled Garden which is planted with a variety of Penstemons, Dahlias and other bedding plants.
Visit sandringhamestate.co.uk to book your visit.
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