Royal escape routes: King Charles' secret passageways, Prince William and Kate's panic room, more

While the royals are arguably one of the world's most recognised families, their private lives remain shrouded in mystery.

So much so, their private royal residences are said to have a number of hidden passages, little-known-about escape routes and secret 'panic rooms' to provide them with an extra layer of security.

HELLO! shares everything you need to know about the royal family's getaway routes built into their royal residences…

King Charles' secret Buckingham Palace exit

Perhaps the most well-known 'secret' passage in Buckingham Palace is not so secret at all, given it's become a popular feature during public tours of the royal residence.

In one of the State Rooms stands a grand golden mirror and dresser featuring candlestick ornaments and decorative jars. But the floor-to-ceiling mirror actually doubles up as a door leading to the King's private apartments.

ITV presenter Lorraine Kelly revealed on a special episode aired from Buckingham Palace that the doorway in disguise is used by the King "to enter or leave the room discreetly whenever he so wishes".

Windsor Castle tunnels

© Chris Jackson

It's not just Buckingham Palace which has hidden elements, as over at Windsor Castle, which is now the monarch's main residence, there is a secret underground tunnel.

In a BBC documentary, The Queen's Palaces , Fiona Bruce revealed the castle's secret passageway – and the hidden exit is like something out of a James Bond film.

As the newsreader showed viewers into a seemingly normal, unassuming room inside the 900-year-old property, she said: "This is an office just tucked away in a corner of Windsor Castle. But look under here.

"Under the carpet, the presenter uncovered a wooden trap door leading to a secret tunnel. "As if by magic, just lift these and the medieval castle emerges," she said.

While we'd love to imagine the King using the passageway to slip away from Windsor undetected, the royal family's use today (if at all) of the secret passage remains shrouded in mystery.

The rumoured tunnels beneath Buckingham Palace

© WPA Pool

Rumours of a network of secret tunnels constructed under the Royal Family's headquarters in London have been fuelling conspiracy theories for decades.

While not confirmed, a web of secret tunnels linking Buckingham Palace to Whitehall and the Houses of Parliament seem plausible given the network of tunnels constructed under Whitehall during World War II, which provided a route for communications cables secure against bombing.

Kensington Palace's panic room

The Prince and Princess of Wales now live in Adelaide Cottage in Windsor with their three children, Prince George , Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis .

When the family still lived in their London residence, Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace, they reportedly had a "panic room" installed for emergencies. "Kate and William’s royal apartment at Kensington Palace includes a panic room with an air filtration system, guarding against biological warfare, and an escape tunnel," revealed the Global Citizen.

© Kensington Palace

"The royal panic rooms are designed to withstand poison gas, bombs or terrorist attacks; they are equipped with secure communications, beds, washing equipment and enough food and water for the royals to survive for at least a week.

"Royal fans who have toured Kensington Palace have also revealed via TikTok that the building has mirrored windows to prevent the public looking into the apartments private garden, while there is also a secret entrance used only by the royals.

St James's Palace secret party passageway

© Alamy

While speaking to Richard Eden of the Daily Mail , Princess Eugenie's husband, Jack Brooksbank, spilled some information about a private tunnel linking St James' Palace to one of Mayfair's most exclusive bars.

"'There is one to Dukes Bar from St James’s Palace,' he tells me at a party in London’s Kensington sponsored by his tequila brand, Casamigos. 'I haven’t used it yet, but I’d love to check it out,'" Eden reported.

LOVE THE ROYALS? JOIN THE CLUB!

If you are reading this, the chances are you are obsessed with all things royalty – which is just as well because so are we! So obsessed, in fact, we’ve launched a club solely dedicated to covering them. So welcome to The HELLO! Royal Club . We would love you to join us there…

What is it?

Interactive community offering behind-the-scenes access, exclusive royal interviews, unmissable royal insights, and an illustrious royal Inner Circle .

Member benefits

• Two weekly newsletters, one from Emily Nash
• Video posts and audio notes from Emily Nash and the HELLO! Royal team
• Access to our royal community and opportunity to interact with club writers and members
• Participate in polls, comments and discussion threads
• Royal-themed puzzles with a weekly prize to be won
  
• Access to our Ask Me Anything sessions with our journalists
• Invitations to in-person and virtual events
• A subscription to the digital edition of HELLO! Magazine (Worth £82 annually)*
• Future ‘Inner Circle’ benefits

By royal decree

You are royally invited to join The HELLO! Royal Club – and then to go forth and spread the word to your fellow royal fans. See you in the club!