A Personal Invitation to Visit Sandringham House – Your invitation to visit the King’s private country retreat in the Norfolk countryside.
A Royal Country Retreat – Signature Tour
This is your personal invitation to visit Sandringham House, the King’s private country retreat tucked away in the Norfolk countryside…..
……I’m standing in the Ball Room in Sandringham House with a pink G & T, admiring the chandeliers, (which were “borrowed” from Buckingham Palace by Queen Alexandra, wife of “Bertie”, King Edward VII, and which were never returned) feeling extremely privileged that I’d been able to see and experience the interior of this most beautiful and cosiest of royal residences.
We were all treated to a Sandringham Gin and tonic – distilled using botanicals grown in the Gardens – or a glass of apple juice made from fruit in the Sandringham orchards, at the end of the very special “A ROYAL COUNTRY RETREAT – SIGNATURE TOUR”.
My hushand and I were part of a small group, which experienced Sandringham House and Gardens on an exclusive guided private tour, including rooms which have never before been open to the public before.
Once described as ‘the most comfortable house in England’, the House has remained a place where members of The Royal Family enjoy relaxing and country pursuits, and is traditionally where they spend Christmas.
For someone who is a staunch royalist, a lover of history, and historical houses, it was a remarkable, moving and very poignant tour.
We were shown around this royal country retreat by 2 room stewards, one a historian and the other someone who has worked in the royal household for over 35 years, initially for the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret and the late Queen Elizabeth.
Their knowledge and passion for this royal family residence was utterly fascinating, with snippets of personal experiences of working for King Charles, and his late mother, Queen Elizabeth before him.
As there was no photography allowed in the house, which is understandable as it is still the private home of the King and his family, I’ve used photos from Sandringham Estate, as well as my own photos from outside the house and the gardens.
My overriding impression of Sandringham House was that it was a cosy, comfortable and homely residence, which was and still is much-loved by the royal family. Tours begin at 4.30pm and conclude at 6.30pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
The first room we entered was the Saloon, this was my favourite room – it felt cosy and lived in, with half finished jigsaws on a green baize table, photos of the royal family everywhere, comfortable chairs and warm wood panelling.
It’s also the room where the late Queen was last photographed in 2022.
One of the most poignant rooms we visited, was a beautiful downstairs garden view bedroom, where the late Queen’s father, George VI, had passed away.
The dining room, where King Charles had instructed the estate to display it as it was for their last New Year’s Eve supper, was set out with beautiful antique Minton china, sparkling crystal glasses, with candles glowing on the table.
Other rooms that have not been open to the public before, included the Billiards Room, and the Long Library – where Queen Elizabeth II’s 1957 Christmas Broadcast became the first to be televised.
Filled with works of art collected by Kings and Queens across the generations, these rooms are an important part of the rich history of Sandringham House.
AD – I was invited to visit the house, as well as enjoy an afternoon tea beforehand on a press invite. All views are my own however.
The Long Library – where Queen Elizabeth II’s 1957 Christmas Broadcast became the first to be televised.
The Queen’s Christmas Broadcast at Sandringham House in 1957
Royal Recipes on Lavender and Lovage
The Queen’s Scotch Pancakes (Drop Scones)
The Queen’s Scotch Pancakes (Drop Scones) – Queen Elizabeth II loved these little pancakes, as did President Eisenhower when he was staying at Balmoral as a guest of the Queen.
The Queen’s Scotch Pancakes (Drop Scones)
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