Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
The US Sun
The Queen gifted Princess Beatrice a £1.5m seven-bed mansion for 9th birthday, it’s now worth £4.2m but she can’t use it
By Becky Pemberton,
2024-08-08
BEING in the royal family certainly has its perks – particularly when it comes to living in palaces and mansions.
When Princess Beatrice was just nine years old she was given a swanky £1.5million pad from the late Queen – but Fergie ended up giving it back.
Beatrice and sister Eugenie were gifted the Grade II-listed Birch Hall in 1997 following their parents – Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson – finalising their divorce the year before.
The Surrey-based home was a pad many would dream of, with seven bedrooms, five acres of land, an outdoor heated swimming pool and a tennis court .
Inside, it also had five living rooms and four bathrooms, and was certainly fit for royalty.
If that wasn’t enough, the home also came with a separate two-bedroom cottage for staff on the grounds.
The Queen instructed that the home be bought by trustees on behalf of the Queen, but Fergie ended up declining the offer.
She was reportedly concerned as to how she would afford the running costs and upkeep of the swanky home.
Instead, the family continued to live together at Sunninghill Park and then Royal Lodge, despite Andrew and Sarah being no longer married.
The Duke and Duchess of York still live in the Windsor-based property together in separate wings and are said to be harmonious.
After the rejection of Birch Hall, it was sold in 1999 and estate agents said it was “due to a change of circumstance”.
It is thought the cash from the sale was placed in a trust for Eugenie and Beatrice to use at a later date.
The home has since gone on to boom in value, and in 2016 was put on the market again for £4.2million.
The owners had also updated the property in that time, adding an orangery, games room and a home gym.
Andrew Russell from estate agency Strutt and Parker told the Daily Mail: “It’s probably one of the very best of north Surrey’s village houses, there’s not that many that come on the market.
“It’s a proper country house with five acres of grounds. The house itself is a very attractive and imposing-looking property.
“Some of the rooms are really quite dramatic, with high ceilings and full floor-to-ceiling sash windows.
“It’s got a swimming pool, tennis court and beautiful specimen trees dating from Victorian times in the garden.”
Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice's close bond
Over the years, the Queen ‘s granddaughters have often spoken about their incredible bond and have previously described themselves as “each other’s rocks.”
The Duchess gave birth at London’s Portland Hospital for Women and Children, and Beatrice’s full name was announced as Beatrice Elizabeth Mary almost two weeks later.
The couple – who divorced in 1996 – then welcomed Princess Eugenie, whose full name is Eugenie Victoria Helena, on March 23, 1990.
As a result of their close bond, it’s no surprise that back in 2018, as Eugenie made her way down to Windsor Castle for her royal nuptials, her maid of honour Beatrice was firmly by her side.
When asked about her maid of honour by TLC , Princess Eugenie said, “I can’t think of anyone I’d want by my side other than her.”
HOME FIT FOR ROYALTY
Meanwhile, since their marriage in 2020, Princess Beatrice, who turns 36 today, and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi , 40, have lived in a four-bed apartment in St James’s Palace , with two-year-old daughter Sienna and Edoardo’s older child, Wolfie.
The reason for the move to Portugal is Jack’s job, as he has been doing marketing, sales and promotion for property entrepreneur Mike Meldman, who is managing the 300-home development there.
According to its website, CostaTerra “offers a wide range of real estate options, from large estate homesites to contemporary coastal villas, turnkey club residences and custom luxury homes”.
And the club – dubbed the “Hamptons of Western Europe” – is certainly an ideal hub for an A-lister boasting luxury amenities such as an 18-hole golf course, spa and equestrian centre.
If that wasn’t enough, there are also private surf lessons, paddleboarding and catamaran trips where you go dolphin-watching.
Mm I had to physically get my arms around his feet
Gloria Rivera
08-13
Harry and Meghan and their children should be given the Royal lodge, since their house was given to Andrew. Andrew and his family must move out, they are no longer part of the main royal family. Andrew can not maintain the cost of keeping the lodge in good working order. besides he no longer needs it. His daughters are married and can easily live with their husband somewhere else. Harry needs to be with his family in a house suited for the status of the king son. Charles must give that property to Harry,meghan and his grand children. it is the right thing to do and Harry must comeback to England to serve again. Charles must fix his family problems and give Harry what he is entitled to have. Charles destroy his own family,just to be with Camila. it is time for him to fix now. fix it doing the right thing. Charles bring your son, Harry back to England. Harry is greatly missed in England ,please bring Harry and his family back to England. he is entitled to live in their homeland.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.