When cataloguing the impressive list of perks that comes with being a member of the British Royal Family, sparkling tiaras and access to high-end designer ateliers rank high.
But one plus we hadn’t considered was the real estate.
Owing to its long history and extensive wealth, ‘The Firm’ has acquired or built dozens and dozens of lavish properties all around the U.K.
From historical castles in Scotland to sprawling manors in the English countryside (and even a ‘quaint’ little house in Wales), royals have no shortage of options when it comes to stays in their native Britain.
If you have a passing interest in seeing how the royal family lives when they’re not kissing babies and cutting ribbons, we’ve dug a little deeper into their (seemingly) never-ending list of homes from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Buckingham Palace
The Location: London, England.
The History: Known as the primary home of The Queen, Buckingham Palace is one of the largest properties owned by the family with 775 rooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms. The Queen does most of her official business there, accompanied by over 800 staff, who also live in the Palace.
Who Lives There: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Inside Buckingham Palace.
Balmoral Castle
The Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
The History: Originally purchased by Queen Victoria, Balmoral is a huge Scottish estate owned by Queen Elizabeth, who lives there from August to September.
Who Lives There: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Inside Balmoral Castle.
Sandringham House
The Location: Sandringham, Norfolk.
The History: Sandringham is a large manor owned by The Queen, which she inherited it from her father. The Queen and her family spend Christmas every year at the estate, where they attend the Church of St. Mary Magdalene.
Who Lives There: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Inside Sandringham House.
Kensington Palace
The Location: London, England.
The History: Set within the Kensington Gardens, Kensington Palace is a large property that houses several royals, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children.
Who Lives There: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank; the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester; the Duke and Duchess of Kent; and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.
An aerial view of Kensington Palace, showing its various smaller properties, including Ivy Cottage, Wren House, and Nottingham Cottage.
Windsor Castle
The Location: Windsor, Berkshire, England.
The History: The Queen’s official country residence, this ancient castle boasts over 1,000 rooms and several more offices and ballrooms. The Queen often travels to spend the weekend at the castle, which also hosts several weddings and christenings.
Who Lives There: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Inside Windsor Castle.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Location: Edinburgh, Scotland.
The History: This historic castle is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth in Scotland, where she spends one week per year.
Who Lives There: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Inside the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The Location: London, England.
The History: Currently the residence of Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla, Clarence House has also been home to Queen Elizabeth (then Princess Elizabeth), Prince Harry and the Queen Mother.
Who Lives There: The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Inside Clarence House.
Anmer Hall
The Location: Norfolk, England.
The History: This Georgian manor was bought by Queen Victoria for her son, Prince Edward in 1862. As a wedding present, Queen Elizabeth gave Anmer Hall to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as their private residence, after which it underwent a £1.5 million renovation.
Who Lives There: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The Location: Gloucestershire, England.
The History: In 1980, Prince Charles purchased Highgrove House to serve as his weekend home. After marrying Lady Diana Spencer, they spent most weekends there with their two sons. It now acts as the family home for Prince Charles and his second wife, Duchess Camilla.
Who Lives There: The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Diana, Princess of Wales, and Prince Harry at Highgrove House.
Hillsborough Castle
The Location: County Down, Northern Ireland.
The History: Hillsborough Castle is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth when she’s in Ireland, and is also the home of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The castle (which is actually just a Georgian mansion, as it isn’t fortified) was built in the 18th century.
Who Lives There: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Frogmore House
The Location: Windsor, Berkshire.
The History: Although Frogmore House doesn’t have any official royal residents, it’s used for quite a few official engagements and events by the family—including, most recently, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding reception. It is named, if you can believe it, because there is an abundance of frogs in the area.
Who Lives There: No official residents.
Frogmore Cottage
The Location: Windsor, Berkshire.
The History: Situated on the grounds of Frogmore House, the Cottage is now home to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their son, Archie. The 10-bedroom home underwent extensive renovations.
Who Lives There: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Osborne House
The Location: Isle of Wight, England.
The History: Built by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1845, this summer home was modelled after an Italian Renaissance palazzo.
Who Lives There: No official residents.
An aerial view of Osbourne House.
St James’s Palace
The Location: London, England.
The History: Known mainly for hosting events like christenings, engagements, receptions and parties, the house also is home to some members of the family including the Anne, Princess Royal, Princess Beatrice of York, and Princess Alexandra.
Who Lives There: Anne, Princess Royal.
Prince William and Catherine Middleton announcing their engagement at St James’s Palace.
The Location: Balmoral, Aberdeenshire.
The History: Located on the Balmoral Castle estate, this seven-bedroom “rustic” home is used as a guest house for visiting residents, including politicians and foreign royals.
Who Lives There: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Llwynywermod
The Location: Myddfai, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, Wales.
The History: Originally owned by a relative of Anne Boleyn, the quaint three-bedroom house serves as one of the residences for Prince Charles when he’s in Wales. When he’s not staying there, it’s often leased out as a bed and breakfast.
Who Lives There: The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Inside Llwynywermod.
The Location: Balmoral, Aberdeenshire.
The History: A popular holiday home for the royals, a young Queen Elizabeth spent a lot of time at Birkhall with her sister, whilst it was also a honeymoon spot for Prince Charles and where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge occasionally spend New Year’s Eve.
Who Lives There: The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.
The grounds of Birkhall.
Gatcombe Park
The Location: Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, England.
The History: This house, with adjoining estate and farm, was bought for Princess Anne by her mother, Queen Elizabeth. It serves as her official country home. Her children, Peter and Zara Phillips, also occasionally live on the estate (in separate cottages) with their families.
Who Lives There: Anne, The Princess Royal.
The Location: Windsor, Berkshire.
The History: This 30-room mansion was once the country home of the Queen Mother, but now is leased by Prince Andrew. His daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, as well as the Duchess of York, also use it as their country home.
Who Lives There: Princess Beatrice of York.
Barnwell Manor
The Location: Barnwell, Northamptonshire, England.
The History: Owned by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, this 18th-century manor has over 40 rooms.
Who Lives There: The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
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