The Royal Family has one ‘hidden and secret’ residence that has a long history of love stories, experts have revealed in a new documentary, and it has often been used for romantic getaways by the Windsors
Many of the Royal Family’s homes are some of the most famous buildings in the UK – with millions of tourists flooding to visit them each and every year.
Buckingham Palace is the very centrepiece of London itself, and Windsor Castle – rich with history – dates back nearly 1000 years. The Windsors also have some high-profile properties that they own privately, like the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk – where they spend Christmas every year – and the imposing Balmoral Estate in the Scottish Highlands, where they spend a few weeks in every summer enjoying quality time as a family, far away from the spotlight that is usually trained upon them.
But there is a little-known other royal residence that is the subject of a new documentary for Channel 5 and has long been the place where some of the House of Windsor’s love stories have played out: Birkhall.
A relatively modest – by royal standards anyway – lodge house very near to Balmoral, Birkhall is one of King Charles’s retreats – and it’s one of his favourite places in the world to spend time, the experts revealed.
In Birkhall: The King’s Secret Sanctuary, experts explained that it isn’t just Charles who has many special memories at the Scottish residence, but in fact, everyone from Prince William to the late Queen has had a significant moment in their love stories play out in this stunning property, and it’s even been dubbed the “Honeymoon home” of the Royal Family.
Historian Professor Chandrika Kaul revealed that “William apparently spoke to Kate’s father and asked his permission to marry Kate on a weekend visit in Birkhall,” adding, “And he asked him before he asked Charles!”
William getting permission from Michael Middleton to marry his long time girlfriend is by no means the only romantic moment that has occurred at Birkhall.
The lodge house was also the setting of Charles’s proposal to Camilla who said afterward to the press “I’m just coming down to earth,” as she beamed and showed off her engagement ring back in 2005. She is said to have replied, “Of course!” when Charles finally popped the question – and the experts all agreed that Birkhall holds a very special place in the King and Queen’s hearts.
“I think when they land at Birkhall,” said former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, “It’s a case of really ‘phew, here we are. We’re going to enjoy one another’s company, and we’re going to walk, and we’re going to sit, and we’re going to read, we’re going to have a little drink, and we’re going to just be together.’
“I think it is one of their very favourite place to be,” she explained. Another expert said that it was the closest thing to a “marital home” the King and Queen actually has.
Charles and Camilla also spent their honeymoon there – which the experts revealed is something of a family tradition. The late Queen and Prince Philip also spent their honeymoon up at Birkhall, far away from the spotlight getting to enjoy their first weeks as newlyweds in the seclusion of the stunning Scottish countryside.
Jennie Bond explained, “Quite a few newlyweds have chosen to spend their time at Birkhall,” with expert Ken Wharfe adding the Duke and Duchess of Kent did the same, and Afua Hagan noting Sophie and Edward also selected it for their honeymoon. “It became known as the sort of honeymoon home,” explained Ingrid Seward – editor in chief of Majesty magazine.
The “hidden and secret” Birkhall was first purchased by Prince Albert when he took over the lease of Balmoral. He intended his eldest son to use the property, but Prince Edward didn’t much enjoy spending time there and the lodge house became something of a “Victorian Airbnb” the documentary revealed.
In the 1950s the Queen Mother took over the house, and added an extensive wing to it, elevating it and making it more suitable to host multiple guests.
After her death in 2002, it passed to Charles who has further put his own stamp on it, whilst leaving some heartbreaking tributes to his beloved grandmother in place, with whom he was always very close.
Birkhall: The King’s Secret Sanctuary, is on available to stream on 5!
