Princess Anne's 'un-royal' home Gatcombe Park has a split personality

Taking a look around my living room as I work from home, I wince at the sight of the clutter – dispersed toddler toys and pending piles of things to ‘sort’. But it is totally normal – it’s not like I live in a palace! It turns out that even royal residences have their relatable areas. It was refreshing to see Princess Anne’s “cluttered” living room during the coronavirus lockdown, and her countryside home is quite the tale of two halves.

The Princess Royal’s Grade II-listed Georgian manor, which was gifted to her by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1976 as a wedding present, has all the special features you’d expect a royal home to possess. The exterior is grand (some would say postcard-worthy, in fact), and the regal elements continue inside. Downstairs, there are four reception rooms, a billiard room and a library, as well as a conservatory, while upstairs boasts five main bedrooms and four secondary bedrooms.

The expansive 730-acre estate is also a telltale sign of its regal standing. The land features lakes and woodlands against the backdrop of the idyllic Gloucestershire hills. The amenities on site are a big nod to Anne’s equestrian career. Gatcombe not only has stables, but there are large paddocks to train horses. Whilst the estate is private, it has previously hosted the Gatcombe Horse Trials and the Festival of British Eventing.

© Mark CuthbertPrincess Anne, Princess Royal at The Gatcombe Horse Trials at Gatcombe Park on September 14, 2019
Princess Anne’s lived-in living room

Despite a plethora of high-society features, the home’s interiors are surprisingly relaxed, we discovered in 2020. When the royal family shared an image of Anne and her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, sitting down to watch a game of rugby, fans couldn’t help but comment on her un-royal surroundings. One penned: “Love it, feels like home,” and another agreed: “I love the lived-in cosy look.” A third added: “I love that their house looks like anyone’s house,” and I totally concur.

The floral furnishings wouldn’t have looked out of place in Buckingham Palace, granted, but the rest of the room was surprisingly humble. The wooden furniture, piles of books and abundant ornaments gave the space a slightly cluttered feel. It also gave a sense of being a relaxed, lived-in space – worlds away from the more formal sitting rooms that we usually see royals host in.

17 glorious royal estates – and a fun fact about each

1. Buckingham Palace

FUN FACT: Boasts a grand interior featuring 775 rooms

2. Windsor Castle

FUN FACT: Houses Queen Mary’s Doll’s House, the world’s largest dollhouse

3. Palace of Holyroodhouse

FUN FACT: It was the primary home of Mary, Queen of Scots between 1561 and 1567

4. Hillsborough Castle

FUN FACT: It’s not actually a real castle, it’s a large country house…

5. St James’s Palace

FUN FACT: Before its royal transformation between 1531 and 1536, the location was an isolated 12th-century hospital treating women with leprosy

6. Sandringham Estate

FUN FACT: One of the estate’s mansions, Park House, is the birthplace and childhood home of the late Diana, Princess of Wales

7. Balmoral Estate

FUN FACT: It’s located within the 50,000 acre Cairngorms National Park

8. Highgrove House

FUN FACT: It features a famous stumpery, a unique garden display crafted from upturned oak and chestnut tree stumps

9. Clarence House

FUN FACT: A secret tunnel is rumoured to connect Buckingham Palace to Clarence House, though this has never been proven

10. Kensington Palace

FUN FACT: Nestled within the gardens is the elegant Orangery, which has been home to banquets and entertaining for 300 years

11. Royal Lodge

FUN FACT: The grounds extend to 98 acres, making it a relatively small royal estate

12. Bagshot Park

FUN FACT: The 120-room property was previously inhabited by Queen Victoria’s favourite son, Arthur

13. Gatcombe Park

FUN FACT: The estate frequently hosts premier equestrian fixtures. Its most prestigious showcase, the Festival of British Eventing, was traditionally held on the grounds until its conclusion in 2024

14. Birkhall

FUN FACT: It sits right next to the River Muick, a river that flows through the Scottish countryside

15. The Tower of London

FUN FACT: This historic site witnessed 22 executions the final one occurring in 1941 and has traditionally housed individuals accused of treason or religious infractions

16. Hampton Court Palace

FUN FACT: Hampton Court Palace houses the Great Vine, officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the largest and oldest grapevine in the world

17. Banqueting House

FUN FACT: The vaulted Undercroft of the Banqueting House was originally created as an intimate drinking den for James I and VI and his friends

Princess Anne’s party barn

Elsewhere on the estate, King Charles’ sister has a “party barn”, her daughter Zara Tindall and son-in-law Mike Tindall have previously revealed. When they gave Vogue Australia a rare interview in 2022, the team were invited to their home, Aston Farm, which sits on the Gatcombe Estate. The piece touched on the “party barn” in the centre of the estate, which has a bar and catering facilities, a giant screen and lounges.

The decor is a departure from traditional interiors, too. Royal fans were able to see inside for themselves when rugby star Mike posed for a photo in the room. It features vaulted ceilings, wooden beams and chic panelling. It is believed that this could have even been the venue of choice for Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling’s wedding celebrations, as their reception was held on site.

Royalty may be well known for their soirees, but a barn bash seems much more low-key than a ballroom dance – and we love that Anne is always doing things differently.

It should come as no surprise that Princess Anne’s property is an anomaly, considering that she’s never one for conformity. She was the first British royal to compete in the Olympic Games in Montreal in 1976, and at 75 years old, she is a proud holder of an HGV (heavy goods vehicle) licence. Even her diet is far from regal fare as she’s been known to tuck into tinned pies, choc ices and kippers. Whatever you think of the Princess Royal, you can’t deny she’s being herself.

Princess Anne’s ‘un-royal’ home Gatcombe Park has a split personality