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Luxury

Queen Elizabeth, Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton at home: what the British royal family’s residences are really like behind closed doors

STORYLeah Simpson
Times that photos of the royal family – including the Duchess of Cambridge seen here with Prince George at Kensington Palace – gave away details of their homes. Photo: EPA, @theroyalfamily/Instagram
Times that photos of the royal family – including the Duchess of Cambridge seen here with Prince George at Kensington Palace – gave away details of their homes. Photo: EPA, @theroyalfamily/Instagram
Royalty

  • What clues do pictures of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, Princes Harry and William, and the rest of the royal family, give us into their private lives?
  • Besides typical family photos and seaside mementos, we spotted gifts from Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey, and even a secret door

Royals are expected to live a life of luxury, but it’s the finer details inside their homes that eagle-eyed fans find fascinating. We went through the archives to deliver the inside scoop on five British royal residences.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s apt art

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have appeared in various videos during lockdown – and incidentally showcased their art collection to the world in the process – but one series of prints got people talking in particular. Meghan and Harry have a trio of pictures inside their US$14 million mansion in Montecito, California, by Barloga Studios, owned by father and son, Dennis and Roy Barloga, and costing a mere US$360 each. The images of nests are believed to be a gift from their friend, neighbour and recent public confidant Oprah Winfrey. They apparently made an appropriate housewarming gift for the royals after their move to the US, where they now have apparently nested for good, after recently finalising their decision to cut ties from the British royal family.
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Queen Elizabeth II’s secret entrance

Footage featured during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games starring British actor Daniel Craig, playing James Bond, escorting Queen Elizabeth through the corridors of Buckingham Palace. Photo: AFP
Footage featured during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games starring British actor Daniel Craig, playing James Bond, escorting Queen Elizabeth through the corridors of Buckingham Palace. Photo: AFP

The Queen has a secret door into the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace. The room is used to host small gatherings and the monarch can make her entrance from behind what appears to be a mirror and cabinet.

The White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace. Photo: The Royal Family
The White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace. Photo: The Royal Family

With so much opulent artwork and furniture, it’s an easy detail to miss if you don’t know it’s there.

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