The correct use of the term “palace intrigue” is to describe an institution whose members are actively working against each other. But let us offer another, albeit incorrect interpretation: an incessant fascination with what, exactly, is inside the grand estates of the royal family. Take a recently tweeted picture of Princess Anne watching television at her stately home of Gatcombe Park. The internet was instantly aflutter with commentary about her floral-print furniture, landscape paintings, and hefty collection of equestrian figurines.
It’s easy to see where the fixation comes from. We’ve grown up reading classic books, from Austen to Brontë, that idealize these grandiose locations. Their owners are celebrities whose movements are covered incessantly by the press, leading us to care more about their lives than other extremely-wealthy citizens of the world. Add to that the fact that these homes are oh-so-close yet tantalizingly off-limits to that public—sure, you can visit Kensington Palace, but you can’t visit the private apartments of William—and suddenly, you’re quite easily enchanted by an interior.
So, we took it upon ourselves to scour the archives for rare looks inside the royal family’s homes, and the rooms that aren’t often open to the public. Below, we’ve collected the best glimpses, from Queen Elizabeth’s corgi-filled private residence at Windsor Castle to Prince Charles’s fascinating collection of art books.
Kensington Palace 1A, Home to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
In 2016, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge hosted a small dinner for President Barack and Michelle Obama at Kensington Palace. This was an event that brought dual joys: one, a toddler Prince George shaking the president’s hand in a bathrobe. Second, a glimpse inside their apartment. Photographers captured a warm beige living room, floral pillows, a large octagonal coffee table, and a pink-patterned chair.
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