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Prince Albert Edward married Princess Alexandra
of Denmark on 10 March 1863, and they travelled
to Norfolk 18 days later – Sandringham’s first role
was as a home for newly-weds.
The young couple made many extensions and improvements to the house
and estate, including the construction of new roads.
As home to the heir to the throne and his
wife, Sandringham was venue to many glittering occasions.
Its use ranged from visits by Heads of State (1881, 1899 and 1902
by Kaiser Wilhelm) to informal retreats by the Royal Family. Three
times a year there was a ball – for the gentry, for the farmer and
for the servants.
Sandringham House in Norfolk has been the private home of
four generations of Sovereigns since 1862. Like Balmoral Her
Majesty and The Duke of Edinburgh are required to oversee the
management of Sandringham, which remains a commercial estate. The
Queen also breeds and trains Labradors and Cocker Spaniels
atSandringham. There is a special Sandringham strain of
black Labrador introduced in 1911. Sandringham House, the
museum and the grounds are open to visitors when Her Majesty is not
in residence.
During Christmas the Royal Family gather for the annual holiday.
The Royal Family currently spend time together, play games, then
the family gather round the television to watch The Queen’s speech
and take part in Prince Philip’s traditional Boxing Day shoot over
the festive period.
Every year The Queen sends Christmas trees local schools and
churches in the Sandringham area. On Christmas morning
everyone attends St Mary Magdalene Church on
the Sandringham estate, The Queen was left apparently
laughing early in 2013 when her State Bentley, converted to run on
biofuel, wouldn’t start as she was at the traditional Sunday church
service near Sandringham House.
King George VI loved Sandringham as much as his father
had done, spending many happy months on the estate. He also died at
Sandringham House, passing away in his sleep on the night of 6
February 1952. His coffin lay in the small church
of St. Mary Magdalene in Sandringham.
Sandringham House was in the 1980s a setting of a scary story,
Prince Charles reported unexplained blasts of cold air during one
holiday. It is also noted that some of the clocks move
randomly and books have tumbled off the shelves. Footsteps may
be heard, odd sounds and lights turning on and off have all been
reported at Sandringham.
His son, The Duke of Cambridge, will also live at the estate one
day soon as Anmer Hall is prepared for him and his family. Anmer
hall is a delightful property situated a few miles away from Her
Majesty’s country retreat Sandringham House. It is expected the
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will use Anmer as their county
retreat.
Throughout her reign, The Queen’s attachment
to Sandringham has remained as strong as that of her
father, grandfather and great-grandfather – and surely many
generations to follow will be just as fond of the country retreat
as the Royal Family are now.
photo credit: ell brown via photopin
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