While some royal residences throw open their doors to the public, such as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, private homes such as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh’s Bagshot Park remain elusive.
Fans only catch a glimpse of the property through old exterior pictures and rare moments when Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie film at home. The 120-room red brick mansion is undoubtedly beautiful, with an unearthed photo showing the conservatory overlooking the sprawling 51-acre grounds.
But one area which doesn’t often draw focus is the lake positioned to the side of the property. Surrounded by stepping stones through the grass, the serene body of water was topped with lily pads and looked onto the boxed shrubbery near the bay windows.
At the time the photo was taken in 1947, the property was considered a “possible future home” for the then-Princess Elizabeth, who had recently married Prince Philip.
Regal history
© Getty ImagesDesigned for King Charles I, Bagshot Park was originally a series of small lodges which were demolished in 1877. Two years later, the Grade II-listed building was rebuilt with approximately 120 rooms.
It was home to the Duke of Connaught until his death in 1942, when the government used the property for the Auxiliary Territorial Service.
Before then-Princess Elizabeth took the throne, she and Philip split their time between Malta and the UK. They had been gifted Sunninghill Park near Ascot as a grace-and-favour country home following their wedding, but it burnt down in August 1947.
Bagshot Park was considered as a potential alternative, but Elizabeth and Philip settled for renting nearby Windlesham Moor between 1947 and 1949. Instead, Bagshot hosted the Army Chaplains’ Department until 1996, and it underwent extensive renovations before Edward and Sophie moved in two years later.
Inside Bagshot Park
Edward originally signed a 50-year lease when they first moved in, but chose to extend the lease for another 150 years, at a reported cost of £5 million.
The couple share their Surrey home with their son James, Earl of Wessex and their daughter Lady Louise Windsor (when she’s visiting from her studies at the University of St Andrews).
As well as the lake, the grounds also feature stables, which have been converted into office space.
Located 400 metres from the main house, it was recently advertised for £10,834 a month (£130,008 a year), featuring meeting rooms, a kitchen, tea points, toilets and showers, plus a garden and 30 parking spaces. The rental brochure added that it has “modern finishes, fibre connectivity [and is] set within the landscaped grounds of Bagshot Park.”
A royal source previously confirmed to HELLO!: “The property in question is not rented to any tenant and it is not on the market.”
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