In bed with the royals
AS THIS WEEK MARKS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF WILLIAM AND KATE`S WEDDING, SIMON URWIN ROUNDS UP THE RIGHT REGAL RESIDENCES WHER MEMBERS OF THE MONARCHY HAVE HUNG UP THEIR CRONWS FOR THE NIGHT
HRH HOLIDAY HOME
When Queen Victoria needed a break from the stresses of court life, she packed her bags for Osborne, her palace by the sea on the Isle of Wight. Built in the style of a grand Italian palazzo, it features sumptuous state rooms and flowery family rooms, notably the bedchamber where the monarch finally met her maker after 63 years on the throne. A wooded walkway leads to the private beach where she took a daily dip, her modesty protected by a bathing machine winched in and out of the Solent by several servants. The 1,000ft-long strip of sand and shingle boasts stonking views across the waters to Portsmouth and is ideal for summer sunbathing, picnicking and yacht-spotting. Tickets £19 for adults, £11.40 for children, english-heritage.org.uk
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REGAL RUSTIC RETREAT
Famously, the whole royal family decamp to their country home, Sandringham, for the festive period. And while an invitation to pop over for Christmas lunch is unlikely to be forthcoming, they do allow commoners to come within forelock-tugging distance by renting out the former head gardener’s house. The self-catering Garden House, sleeping eight, is bookable year-round (from £808 for three nights/£34pppn, norfolkhideaways.co.uk) and comes complete with landedgentry touches such as an Aga and furniture selected from various royal residences. On the doorstep are more than 200 hectares of woodland and heath within the Royal Park, while Sandringham, the most famous address in Norfolk, is just across the road.
Tickets for house and garden visit from £20pp, sandringhamestate.com