Majestic Castles That The British Royal Family Owns.

For many years, the British royal family has called some of the most illustrious structures in the world home. Even the most devoted royal fans might not be aware of some of the lesser-known castles located around the United Kingdom and the rest of the world. In this article, we are going to explore lavish royal structures owned by members of the British royal family.

Buckingham Palace

None of the Queen’s homes is more recognizable than Buckingham Palace. The history of the house dates back to the 17th century when it was initially used as a mulberry plantation and afterward as the Duke of Buckingham’s residence. But it wasn’t until George IV’s reign that the palace took on its present appearance, a Neoclassical U-shape, after John Nash and then Edward Blore and James Pennethorne were hired to enhance an earlier building there. Following her father’s accession to the throne in 1936, Queen Elizabeth moved into the palace’s royal apartments.

There are 775 rooms in total in the palace. 19 of which are large State Rooms used for royal rituals and hosting heads of state. The Royal Family is renowned for gathering on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for special occasions. For instance, birthdays, marriages, and the yearly Trooping of Color.

Balmoral Castle

On September 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II passed away at Balmoral Castle. It is the British royal family’s most well-known private house. It is thought that King Charles III assumed control of the land after she went away.

The castle was first rented in 1848. And in 1852, Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, bought it for her. The existing building was constructed between 1853 and 1856. The prince and architect William Smith created it in the Scottish baronial style to take the place of a lesser castle that had previously stood on the site.

Majestic Castles That The British Royal Family Owns.; Balmoral Castle

The British monarch’s private residence and a Scottish vacation home are Balmoral Castle, It is situated in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on the right bank of the River Dee. In other words, it is not a part of the Crown Estate or the duchies, which are in charge of the majority of the royal homes in Britain.

There are various vacation homes on the Balmoral estate’s grounds. In addition, in the neighborhood that may be rented year-round or on a certain day.

Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere, a portion of the Windsor Estate, was constructed in the 1820s by English architect Jeffry Wyatville. It reflects the Gothic Revival design. The manor home is well known for housing Edward VIII. He was the Duke of Windsor, as a royal from 1929 to 1936. The then-Prince made several room renovations during his stay to include more modern accents.

That included horse stables, a swimming pool, and tennis courts. Edward signed his written abdication notice there, resigning from the throne and giving up his residence. The manor house has previously housed a few other people. But recently, speculations have surfaced that the abandoned castle may now serve as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s new official residence.

Windsor Castle

The worlds oldest and biggest continually inhabited castle, Windsor Castle is located to the west of London. And it has a more than 1,000-year history. 39 kings and queens have resided in the 1,000-room, majestic crenelated building throughout its many years.

Windsor Castle was originally used by the Queen and her sister, Margaret, as a haven during World War II. Parts of the castle were damaged by fire in 1992. But Prince Philip oversaw a painstaking repair that brought the structure back to its former splendor.

Tower of London

William the Conqueror constructed the Tower of London in the 1070s as a method to assert his power in London. It is a huge stone stronghold unlike any other seen in England before it. The castle was built using French stone. And continues to expand for more than 20 years.

It is the largest and sturdiest concentric castle, with one ring of protection inside another. That was created by Henry III and Edward I in the late 1200s by adding defensive curtain walls and smaller towers around the exterior. Henry III had the Tower’s great keep painted white and expanded the moat for the fortress next to the river. St. Thomas’ Tower, the Wakefield Tower, and the Lanthorn Tower are magnificent tower pillars that stand out in this structure.

Majestic Castles That The British Royal Family Owns.; Tower of London

The Tower, which still houses the Crown Jewels, was formerly the location of the Royal Mint and Royal Armories, the monarch’s bodyguards. It is also the birthplace of the Yeomen of the Guard. The Tower, once a magnificent residence for royals, became a jail for many. And some are buried there. Yeomen Warders and their families, together with a garrison of troops and a bar, are still housed in the Tower. thousands of visitors visit here making it one of the busiest places in London.

Sandringham Estate

Over 800 square kilometers of land make up the 13 communities that make up the Sandringham estate. The stunning Sandringham House, from which Queen Elizabeth II gave her first Christmas Day speech televised in 1957, is the structure with the highest significance in the area.

It is one of Queen Elizabeth II’s private residences. This house was left to King Charles III upon her passing.

Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, received the mansion as a birthday present in 1862. He recruited architect A. J. Humbert to construct a mansion that was larger than what was already there. The existing structure, which was finished in 1870, received renovations. Furthermore, King Edward VII and Prince Philip who was the Duke of Edinburgh added some extra features to this palace.

Majestic Castles That The British Royal Family Owns.; Sandringham Estate

Sandringham House was made accessible to the public by Queen Elizabeth II in 1977. Since then, the structure has served as the location for a variety of significant occasions,

Aside from the house, the estate includes the 800-year-old Veteran Oak tree in the Sandringham Gardens. In addition, the Sandringham Royal Park which spreads over 2.5 square kilometers, is the parish church of St. Mary Magdalene. Moreover, the Sandringham Courtyard. The general public has access to every location.

According to the New York Post, Norfolk Hideaways, a boutique vacation rental firm in the UK, offered the garden home on the estate on Airbnb. The agency said that the home’s owner was the Queen.