Clink the link in our bio to find out more! 👆
A Wendy house fit for a Queen: The history of the tiny Welsh cottage in the grounds of Windsor where generations of royals have played
The Little House is the miniature thatched, whitewashed cottage in the grounds of Windsor’s Royal Lodge where the Queen played as a child. It is tucked away from public view in the south side of the gardens of Windsor’s Royal Lodge.
Called Y Bwthyn Bach, or The Little House, it has been a play den for the Queen and subsequent generations of her family for the past 88 years.
The two-thirds size cottage, which measures 24 feet long, eight feet deep and with five feet high rooms, was presented to Princess Elizabeth and her sister Margaret in March 1932 on behalf of ‘the people of Wales’ on the occasion of Elizabeth’s sixth birthday.
The Little House (pictured) is the miniature thatched, whitewashed cottage in the grounds of Windsor’s Royal Lodge where the Queen played as a child. It is tucked away from public view in the south side of the gardens of Windsor’s Royal Lodge
Princess Margaret looking down to King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Elizabeth from the 'Dolls House' in the grounds of the Royal Lodge, Windsor
Designed by architect Edmund Willmott, who had earlier built a less grand little house for his own daughter to play in, it was intended as a symbol of the love and fascination of the Welsh people for the little princess who was, at that stage, never expected to become Queen.
The mining communities of the valleys had suffered more unemployment than any other part of Britain during the Depression, and the house, built exclusively by Welsh labour and from Welsh materials left over from the Llandough Hospital, was a poignant reminder of a workforce in despair.
It was also designed as a link between the two little princesses and those who lived in genuine cottages. It gave the sisters the chance to play at keeping an ordinary house - although it was far more luxurious than the vast majority of family homes at the time.
The layout of a typical Welsh cottage was followed for the interior. The front door opens onto a small hallway with a kitchen to the right and the ‘siamber fach’, or Little Chamber, on the left. A staircase gives access to a bedroom and a bathroom, which, when it was first built, was very modern, with hot and cold running water, a heated towel rail and electricity.
The dining room in the Queen's Windsor cottage, with a portrait of the queen's mother and Prince Beatrice's teddies, pictured left
Princess Margaret sits on the wall of the Welsh House at Royal Lodge, Windsor in 1936, pictured left, and the replica gas stove with sparkling pots and pans beside a washing machine, mangle and apron, in the cottage, pictured right
The contents included a tiny radio, a little oak dresser and a miniature blue and gold china set. There was linen with the initial ‘E’ and a portrait of the Queen’s mother, the Duchess of York, hanging over the dining room mantelpiece. A bookcase filled with Beatrix Potter’s little books, including Jemima Puddleduck, ensured the girls never grew bored. Lattice windows, blue and white checked curtains, blue carpets and white walls finished off the decor.
The house also contained little books, pots and pans, food cans, brooms, a packet of Epsom salts and a radio licence, all made to order and to scale. In the kitchen, there was a gas cooker and a fridge which both worked. There was even a working, miniature-sized telephone. The house also had its own front garden with scaled down hedges and flower borders.
The presentation of the finished house was preceded by a narrowly averted disaster. When the house was in transit, first by low loader and then by a steam traction engine, the tarpaulin protecting it caught fire, destroying the thatched roof and many of the timbers. Luckily, the Sea Insurance Company had issued a miniature fire policy for £750 on the building and £500 on the contents.
The Queen Mother pictured playing with her beaming grandson Prince Charles in the Little Welsh House at the Royal Lodge in 1954
Princess Elizabeth as a child in the garden of Royal Lodge, Windsor with Y Bwthyn Bach (The Little House). The princesses spent many hours cleaning and tidying their tiny home, with Elizabeth in particular developing a reputation for being exceptionally neat
Craftsmen worked day and night to repair the damage, with the final bill for all the work coming to an estimated £1,100. When it was finally ready, it was displayed at the Daily Mail’s Ideal Home Exhibition at Olympia for the masses to see. It was then reconstructed in Windsor Great Park for Elizabeth and became a favourite pastime.
The princesses spent many hours cleaning and tidying their tiny home, with Elizabeth in particular developing a reputation for being exceptionally neat. This was the children’s domain, and adults, who had to crouch to fit through the door, were admitted only by invitation.
Over the years, the Queen’s children have also played in the house as well as her grandchildren - most likely including Prince Harry - and her great-grandchildren. It's thought to hold a special place in the hearts of all the royal children, but Princess Beatrice was especially captivated by it and refurbished the build in 2012.
But the Little House in Windsor isn't the only beloved Wendy house belonging to the royal family - because a miniature thatched cottage sits in the grounds Birkhall, Aberdeenshire, the Scottish home of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall (pictured in the Wendy house)
Under Beatrice’s guidance, new curtains and upholstery were put in, the paintwork was refreshed, the roof was rethatched and the cottage was rewired. The original blue colour scheme was replaced by pale green sofa coverings and cream curtains with tiny dark pink flowers.
But the Little House in Windsor isn't the only beloved Wendy house belonging to the royal family - because a miniature thatched cottage sits in the grounds Birkhall, Aberdeenshire, the Scottish home of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.
The Wendy house is steeped in royal history and was originally built in 1935 for the then Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret to enjoy.
Camilla recently posed in the cottage, which still appears to be in good condition - featuring a thatched roof and wooden walls, with functioning opening windows.
'Light brings hope': The Queen's powerful Christmas message in full
Her Majesty dons Queen Mother's Shell Brooch while an unseen photo of Prince Philip takes pride of place on the desk
The Queen donned the Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell Brooch which belonged to the Queen Mother while a framed photograph of Prince Philip could be seen placed on her desk during her annual Christmas broadcast at Windsor Castle.
The monarch, 94, opted for the Mother's Shell Brooch, which, as the name suggests, takes the shape of a shell made of rows of diamonds and singular pearl, while several strings of diamonds in varying lengths dangle underneath.
It was designed by Lord Courtauld-Thomson, son of a famous Scottish inventor, and made in 1919 in London by The Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co., Ltd, before being left to Queen Elizabeth, the future Queen Mother, in 1944 by his sister, Winifred Hope Thomson.
A prized possession, it was worn by the Queen Mother during her 100th birthday celebrations, and was left to the monarch when her mother passed away in 2002.
Since then, Her Majesty has worn it to several special occasions - including the unveiling of the Queen Mother's statue and Zara Phillips' wedding to Mike Tindall.
The monarch, who donned a purple ensemble, paired her outfit with pearl earrings and a trio of pearl necklaces as she addressed a turbulent 12 months.
Pearls were the Queen's first 'serious' piece of jewellery. When her grandfather George V celebrated his Silver Jubilee in 1935, he gave both his granddaughters pearl necklaces.
The then nine-year-old Princess Elizabeth received a necklace of three rows of perfectly matched pearls; Princess Margaret, four years younger, got a two-row version.
Among the collection Elizabeth owns today are two stunning necklaces; the 18th-century Queen Anne pearl necklace and the 50-pearl Queen Caroline necklace, both given as a wedding present from her father.
A photo of a casual looking Prince Philip, wearing a light blue jumper and smart collared shirt, believed to be taken at Sandringham in Norfolk in 2002, was also seen placed on the desk, while unlike last year, there were no photographs of her grandchildren or other family members in display.
William and Kate say it 'doesn't feel right' to wish nation a merry Christmas this year - as Charles and Camilla share a jolly snap
Prince William and Kate Middleton have said it 'doesn't feel right' to wish the nation a merry Christmas this year and are instead 'wishing for a better 2021' - before sending their thoughts to those who are 'spending today alone', writes Chloe Morgan.
Prince William and Kate Middleton have said it 'doesn't feel right' to wish the nation a merry Christmas this year and are instead 'wishing for a better 2021' (pictured)
Taking to the official Kensington Palace Twitter, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, both 38, penned: 'Wishing a merry Christmas doesn't feel right this year, so instead we're wishing for a better 2021. For those struggling today, there is support available: @GiveUsAShout @MindCharity @samaritans @theCALMzone @TheSilverLineUK @OurFrontlineUK @NHSCharities.'
'This Christmas our thoughts are with those of you who are spending today alone, those of you who are mourning the loss of a loved one, and those of you on the frontline who are still mustering the energy to put your own lives on hold to look after the rest of us.'
Meanwhile, Prince Charles and Camilla took to Clarence House social media and wrote: 'Wishing you all a happy Christmas and here's to a better New Year! Christmas tree,' alongside a star emoji.
************************************
0 件のコメント:
コメントを投稿
Thank you for your comments♥