Princess Anne's Unexpected Residents At Sprawling Estate Disclosed

Aug 12, 2021 by apost team

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's only daughter, Princess Anne, has led a quiet and more private life than many of her nieces and nephews. On her social media accounts, she mostly shares formal photos and pre-approved stories, which means that it's not all that common for the public to get a glimpse into her life.

However, in the last year, Anne has shared a few photos of her home, giving the public a peek into what her sprawling estate looks like. Anne lives in Gatcombe Park in a 730-acre estate between the villages of Minchinhampton and Avening in Gloucestershire. According to Hello! Magazine, the home reportedly features five main bedrooms, four secondary bedrooms, four reception rooms, a billiard room, a conservatory and a library. 

Anne shared a rare photo of her home in Feb. 2021, in which the 70-year-old is dressed casually in a maroon sweater and black fleece vest as she sits with her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, watching the Calcutta Cup rugby match between England and Scotland. Architectural Digest reported that Anne is a patron of the Scotland team. This was one of the first-ever looks into the royal's home, and it gives a glimpse at Anne's style when it comes to her living quarters. 

Another aspect of her home was only revealed last year, when the royal family's website posted 70 facts about Anne in honor of her 70th birthday, which fell on Aug. 15, 2020. The little-known fact is that Anne's home, Gatcombe Park, is a working farm! It even has a number of unexpected residents for a royal property — cows, sheep and pigs! Let's take a look at her surprising housemates.

To celebrate Princess Anne's 70th birthday, the royal family website shared 70 facts about the princess. One of these facts read:

"Her Royal Highness’s home, Gatcombe Park, is a working farm and has some 230 Wiltshire horn ewes, 14 white park cows, 6 Highland cows, and 2 Gloucester old spot sows."

Who'd have thought! Considering the size of Gatcombe Park, it makes sense that Anne and her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, aren't the only residents, but farm animals are not the first thing that comes to mind. Meanwhile, in the ITV documentary "The Princess Royal at 70," Anne was seen with a number of farm animals on the property including horses and pigs. 

A lover of animals, in the interior photo of her home that was released earlier this year, fans were quick to notice the dog bed that was situated in Anne's living room next to the TV. In the photo, Anne showed fans that despite being a royal, she is just like any other person when it comes to her home. Many people may have the idea that a royal home needs to be constantly tidy and organized, but Anne's living room is a little cluttered and quite cozy. 

Along with the plush floral-printed, melon-colored couches, there are also two cabinets filled with framed photos and knickknacks, as well as books, figurines and more photos seen across the length of the living room. The cream-colored walls are embedded here and there with a few framed works of art, all of which appear to depict various seaside scenes.

apost.com

According to Historic England, the estate that Anne and her husband currently live on was first sold to political economist David Ricardo in 1814 after he made his fortune on the stock exchange. English architect George Basevi was employed to work on the house a few years later and reportedly "very little has been altered since the 1820s." 

Country Living reported that in 1976, the queen bought the property from the conservative politician R.A. Butler as a present for Anne and her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, after their wedding in 1973. The married couple moved into the residence a year later and raised their two children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall (born Phillips), on the estate. However, Anne and her first husband divorced in 1992, after which Mark moved into Aston Farm, which is nearby. Anne then married her current husband, who has helped her to maintain the estate ever since. 

Speaking about her home, Country Living reported that Anne told the BBC, "It's really nice to come back and just be yourself in an area like this." She also added that farming is vital to the upkeep of the estate. "Being able to take on a place like this — for me, I’ve got to make it work," she explained. "This is not something that comes free, this has got to pay its way, otherwise I can’t stay here."

Who could have ever guessed that Anne's unexpected residents at Gatcombe Park were farm animals? But honestly, it only adds to the estate's charm.   

Did you know that Princess Anne's estate is a working farm that she shares with a whole host of farm animals? If you learned something from this, be sure to pass it on to others!