UK trip, Aug 2007 - Sandringham

The Sandringham House is the Queen's privately owned estate (along with Balmoral Castle).

(Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse are classed as the Occupied Royal Residences. The Occupied Royal Residences are owned by the sovereign of Great Britain, not by an individual as such.)

SP and I didn't venture into the Sandringham House, as we were already running late and you can only visit the house on a fully guided tour.

We did took a few photos in front of the gate and at the church of St Mary Magdalene.

The wrought-iron gate were made in Norwich for the1862 Great Exhibition, and they were later presented to the then Prince and Princess of Wales (later King George V and Queen Mary) as a wedding gift.

We spoke to the lady looking after the church and she was happy to share with us some information about the church:

• The Royal Family traditionally attends the Christmas morning service in the church each year.
• Two monarchs has died at Sandringham (George V and George VI). Both bodies were rested in the church before being taken to London for burial
• There is a collection of really old flags in the side chapel.
• There were memorial tablets around the walls of the church, one for each recent Kings and their Queens.

I have later found out that Princess Diana was baptised there.

Prince John, fifth son of King George V and Queen Mary and the central figure of the 'Lost Prince', was also baptised and buried there.

I've just watched the mini-series last week and it is very touching! Too bad I didn't see the grave when I was there.