Christmas getaway: Sandringham House

As the world gets ready to celebrate Christmas, we take a look at the home where the British Royal Family celebrates Christmas: Sandringham House.

Located in Norfolk, it was first built in 1771 as Sandringham Hall, but it did not become a royal residence until 1862 during the reign of Queen Victoria.

The Queen bought it for her son, the future King Edward VII, and he had the hall torn down to build a much larger home. That was completed by 1870, but it was extended again in 1883. Edward VII and Queen Alexandra were responsible for transforming the entire estate.

Following Edward’s death, Alexandra remained in the home, and George V and his wife, Mary, remained at York Cottage. King George did not want his mother to move out of the home his father built for her. He and his family did not move into the residence until Queen Alexandra died in 1925.

It was from Sandringham that King George V gave the first royal Christmas speeches via radio in 1932.

The home has since been passed down from monarch to monarch. At the time of Edward VIII’s abdication, the home was the private property of the monarch, meaning King George VI had to purchase the home (and Balmoral Castle) from his older brother.

A royal Christmas at Sandringham did not take place from 1938 to 1945, but has since become the focal point of a royal Christmas where the family opens gifts on Christmas Eve (a nod to their German heritage).

The Jacobethan-style house is made of red brick and limestone dressings. The property consists of the main home, gardens, park, woodlands and other residential properties.

The country estate is listed as a Grade II on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.

More information on how to visit the property can be found here.