When the Squatters Rights law was overturned in 2012, no family breathed a bigger sigh of relief than the Royal Family. They have tonnes of houses dotted around the UK and each residence has its own unique architectural design and history.
Buckingham Palace
image source: http://cdn.royalcollection.org.uk
First things first, the most well known of them all: Buckingham Palace. It has been the official London residence of Britain’s sovereigns since 1837 and it is undoubtedly the most iconic of the Royal Family’s homes. Every day, thousands of tourists flock into Westminster to peer through the tall gates to see if the flags are full mast, to witness the changing of the guards and to enjoy the splendour of the buildings stern design.
Windsor Castle
image source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia
Windsor Castle was built in the 11th century and it is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. It resides in Berkshire and boasts thirteen acres, with a fortification, a palace, St George’s Castle and a small town. Architecturally it is a fusion of Georgian and Victorian design and based on a medieval structure.
Frogmore House
image source: http://cdn.royalcollection.org.uk
Frogmore House is less than a mile away from Windsor Castle. It is a Grade I listed building and in the 1980’s underwent extensive restoration, revealing the lost early 18th-century wall paintings by Louis Laguerre.
Balmoral Castle
image source: http://www.somethingparanormal.co.uk
Balmoral Castle is part of the Balmoral Castle Estate, covering 50,000 acres in the Aberdeenshire area. Unlike other Royal residences this is not actually the property of the Crown but privately owned.
Kensington Palace
image source: http://www.luckylittletravelers.com
Kensington Palace resides in Kensington Gardens and has been a Royal Residence since the 17th Century. Many areas are now open to the public and it is managed by the independent charity Historic Royal Palaces. It is also the formal residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
Clarence House
image source: http://upload.wikimedia.org
Clarence House is situated on The Mall, Westminster. The building’s pale stucco design has undergone extensive remodelling and reconstruction over the years, most notably after the Second World War, so much so that relatively little remains of architect John Nash’s original structure.
There are many more properties, each maintained by Royal staff and occupied by various family members. The Royal Family are transient beings and tend to hop to different residences every couple of years – a bit like squatters really.
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