Mr Benyon, the Conservative MP for West Berkshire who is worth £200million, said his vast Englefield estate between Newbury and Reading had been ‘plagued for years’ by gangs staging illegal hare coursing events.

A now for something a little different…. The Duchess of Cambridge’s sister, Phillipa Charlotte, just married this past weekend. Who? That’s Kate’s sister - Pippa to you and me. I’ll admit I didn’t realize Pippa was short for Phillipa, but it makes sense. At least now we know where Princess Charlotte got her name from – her aunt Pippa! The Three Middleton Ladies: Pippa, Kate and their mother Carole. Carole was a flight attendant who started a mail order company called “Party Pieces” which over time became the huge success it is today. First… A disclaimer: I was a huge fan of Princess Diana – she was a few years younger than me and when she became the future Queen of England (sob!) – I thought she was the most fabulous woman who had ever lived. She was my Jackie Kennedy. I loved her clothes, her sense of style, her hair do!, her houses, her empathy, her heart – there wasn’t much I didn’t love about her. I always thought, and still do, that she was terribly mistreated by the Royal Family and that she was used by Charles and Camilla - who should have married when they were both young and single. When Diana died, I thought it was such a waste and so tragic that I never wanted to hear about the Royal Family again. Done with them!!! But, slowly over time, when the boys were grown and Diana’s grandchildren were born, I was lured back in the fold, until here I am this weekend, obsessing over every aspect of Pippa’s wedding. Well….Diana’s grandchildren are in it!! Do you blame me? So here in a nutshell is everything you need to know about the “Wedding of the Year” as the British press is calling it. Pippa sprang on the scene when she was her sister’s maid of honor at the Wedding of the Decade – William and Kate’s: Pippa became famous for standing behind her sister Kate, in her own white dress, holding Kate’s long train. Many thought Pippa was more beautiful than Kate and some thought Pippa’s dress was prettier than Kate’s (I did, I hate to say!) To everyone outside of England, Pippa was a total unknown, but she and her derriere became a social-media star that day. Later, Pippa confessed that she was confused by all the attention she received at Kate’s wedding. Pippa said that her dress was specifically designed to be plain and to not outshine Kate’s. In the end, it was the dress’ simple elegance and Pippa’s slim figure that together made Pippa a household name. After the Cambridge wedding, the race to marry off Pippa was on. There were a few fits and starts with different, very eligible boyfriends. But, it all came to an end when Pippa, 33, became engaged to the handsome and very successful (of course – you didn’t think she would be marrying someone unemployed!) James Spencer Matthews, 41. Here are the young Kate on the left and Pippa, bridesmaids at their uncle Gary Goldsmith’s wedding. Gary is Carole’s brother and a black sheep of the family. He was at Pippa’s wedding, but was not invited to the reception afterwards. He was later seen eating lunch in a restaurant after Pippa’s wedding. Pippa attended private day schools, then boarded away at Marlborough College. She graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a decree in English literature. After college she worked in PR and later wrote for magazines such as Vanity Fair and several newspapers. A few years ago she set up a company, but what it is for or does is a complete mystery. Pippa and James dated a few years before they became engaged. They were seen on winter vacations at James’ family owned St. Barts resort Eden Rock, joined there by Pippa’s family. It was obvious both families approved of the match. Pippa’s ring is an Asscher cut surrounded by a row of diamonds which makes it appear even larger than it already is. The center stone has been estimated to be 3.5 carats. The happy couple married this Saturday! While the couple are not royal, everyone is quite excited over the festivities, to say the least. It’s not everyday that two future Kings of England attend a wedding. Prince George and Princess Charlotte, nephew and niece of Pippa were attendants at the wedding. The Middletons have been accepted into some aspects of the Royal Family. Here, they were welcomed to Sandringham for the christening of Princess Charlotte. Pippa stands between her father and her handsome brother, also named James. The tabloids go from loving the Middletons to not quite loving them. Some tabloids think that Prince William is too close to his in-laws and he and Kate don’t do enough royal duties. That all seems to be changing now, as they both seem very busy working for the “Royal Firm.” While Carole and Michael Middleton seem to get along well with the Royal Family, there does appear to be a cooling-off in the relationship. Pippa works part-time for her parents business and even wrote a book about party planning and entertaining, though it was considered a flop when sales were below expectations. She even penned a mea-culpa about the failure of the book, claiming she is indeed a capable and trained chef. Pippa will have a lot of chances to show off her entertaining skills when she marries into her new family. Her in-laws, Jane and Dave Matthews, are quite a colorful bunch and by marrying into the family, Pippa will gain a title! Her husband, as the eldest son, will one day inherit the Scottish title “Lord Glen Affric” and as his wife, Pippa will be “Lady Glen Affric.” The title comes along with the 10,000 acre estate in Scotland that James’ parents bought in 2008. When he bought the property, James’ father became the Laird of Glen Affric, the gorgeous Highlands estate seen above. The estate has another royal connection as Queen Elizabeth’s grandmother, Queen Mary, stayed at Glen Affric in the late 19th century. The Matthews developed the estate into an exclusive Highlands vacation spot for traditional shooting and fly fishing and other Scottish pursuits. Hidden in the hills is the main lodge of Glen Affic where guests stay. It is gorgeous. Recently it was rumored that Pippa and James would honeymoon at Glen Affic, but now there is another destination rumor. Besides their Highlands estate, James parents, Jane and David Matthews, also own a resort in St. Barts. In 1995, Dave moved the family to the ritzy island when they bought the iconic resort Eden Rock, considered one of the most exclusive resorts in the region. In its heyday, Greta Garbo, Howard Hughes, the Rothschilds and the Rockefellers would come to stay. The Matthews have renovated the resort, luring a new generation of young stars. Pippa has quite her pick of vacation spots now – either St. Barts or the Scottish Highlands. Hmmm….such a dilemma! David Matthews, James father, wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He started out as a car mechanic for his father and then became a successful race car driver. When he retired from racing, he started a used car business which he turned into a highly successful business. He later moved to St. Barts to renovate Eden Rock. The Matthews have a similar background to the Middletons, as Pippa’s father is also self made, starting out as a airline manager, while his wife Carole was a flight attendant. But the Middleton’s have royal ties besides their daughter being the future Queen of England. Michael Middleton’s grandmother Olive grew up on her family’s estate Potternewton Hall with her cousins who lived next door. The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, was a visitor to their home. Olive passed on a large inheritance to the family, which greatly added to the Middletons coffers. But, the Middletons business, started by Carole, is the mail order “Party Pieces” that sells party planning items. From the Middletons’ company “Party Pieces” line of goods. Judging by the merchandise on their web site, it’s hard to see how they became multi-millionaires from this business, but – they did. I’m in the wrong business is all I can say!! The Handsome Couple: Pippa and James Spencer Matthews Pippa and James’ Wedding Ceremony took place at St. Mark’s Church located on the beautiful Englefield Estate in Berkshire. You might remember Englefield from when I wrote about it last year HERE. Englefield Estate was used as a location for the series “The Crown” when it stood in for the royal estate Sandringham. Englefield Estate – the wedding ceremony took place at the church on the estate. Englefield is owned by the Tory MP Richard Benyon who is thought to be friendly with the family. After the ceremony, there was a champagne reception held on the estate, though the exact location was not disclosed. Later on Saturday night, there was a dinner dance held at the Middleton’s estate “The Manor.” From “The Crown” – paparazzi take pictures of the church, which is playing the part of “Sandringham.” I had no idea at the time I watched this scene on television that Pippa was going to be married right here a few months later!! The 12th century church in Berkshire on the Englefield Estate is quite beautiful and romantic. Days before the wedding, the grounds were seen been readied for the big event. Before the wedding, scores of gold chairs were delivered to the church signaling that more people were invited than there are pews for. But, perhaps these chairs are actually for the champagne reception after the wedding. The church is not that large, but it’s assumed there won’t be an empty pew. A close up of the altar. It’s so beautiful. Most likely this church was chosen because it’s a few minutes from the Middleton’s house where the evening party was held. The big question was about Prince Harry’s girlfriend, U.S. Actress Meghan Markle. Since they are not engaged, it was said she would not be at the ceremony but might be at the reception. There was a rule – no ring, no invitation. Later, the Church of England decreed that any citizen could attend any wedding that was held at a public church. So, Meghan’s appearance was a last minute question mark. Would she attend? In the end, Meghan did not go to the ceremony. After the reception, Prince Harry drove all the way back to London to pick up Meghan and they went together to the evening party. This was a smart move on Meghan’s part. Had she attended the ceremony, she would have garnered all the press attention instead of Pippa. By staying away, she made the more mature decision. Point/game to Meghan!! The road to Bucklebury where the Middletons live was being guarded all week before the wedding. The evening party/dinner-dance was held at the Middletons house located a few miles away from the church. Their Georgian style house is Grade II Listed and has five living areas, 7 bedrooms, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and is located on 18 acres. The Middletons bought the house just after Kate and William married and the rumor was that Prince William had helped pay for the 5,000,000 pound estate with money he inherited from his mother Princess Diana. When William turned 30, he had inherited over 15 million pounds from Diana’s estate and the thought was that since they would be staying with their inlaws, special security buildings would be needed and William wanted to pay for the inconvenience of being a “Royal.” Who knows if this is true or not, but the Middletons are certainly well off enough to afford the house themselves, without William’s help. When the Middleton’s bought the house, they requested planning permission to build a garage with an apartment above it, along with storage and a workshop. Most likely this was for staff or security. The Middleton’s Bucklebury estate has Royal roots. King Henry I gave the land to monks who created fishponds on it, three of which still exist today. In 1540 after the monks left, Henry VIII gave the land to John Winchcombe who pasted it onto the Hartleys who lived on the estate until recently. The Hartleys kept the title of Lord and Lady that came with the house so unfortunately the Middletons did not get the title. The gate to the Middleton’s house provides privacy as does the tall hedge that surrounds the estate. The swimming pool and tennis court are located at the front by the street. There is an addition to the side of the main house that creates a courtyard. The house is known as “The Manor.” It was built in 1830 and is listed Grade II. The main house has had several additions over the years. The beautiful large entry was built as a later addition and at the rear of the house is another addition. To the right of the main house is a large addition that is a garden/sitting room. Between the original house and the addition is the courtyard with pavers and gravel and topiaries. Parking is behind the house. Today, for the wedding, the courtyards have been cleaned and the terraces look much brighter, as if it is new stone. From Real Estate photos – the front facade with the front door addition is very beautiful. Real Estate Photos: The living room is noted for its large antique mantel from the 17th century, along with its Delft tile surround. This is NOT the Middletons furniture – but this is how the house looked when they bought it! This view looks out to the side courtyard. Real Estate View: The kitchen runs the width of the main house. Behind the blue chair is a French door that opens to the courtyard on the left side of the house. On the other side of this room is a sitting area (see below) which opens to the large courtyard. Real Estate View: The sitting room as seen above – on the opposite side of the kitchen. This opens up to the courtyard. Real Estate: The large, side addition – with sliding doors that open to the courtyard. Another aerial view. On the left side of the house is the small courtyard off the kitchen. The side courtyard of The Manor. The left side and back of the house. The kitchen is through those French doors. And that same left side view as above. The French door leads to the small courtyard off the kitchen. This courtyard has recently been completely redone with new or cleaned stone and new furniture. The same view of the kitchen’s French door. And the same left back side of The Manor. There is an old swing set. I’m sure that’s been updated for Prince George and Princess Charlotte. At the very back is the garage. Aerial view of the garden/sitting addition. The courtyard and the addition. I love those topiaries. From this view you can see the additions – the large one at the back of the main house and the one at the side of the main house. The courtyard with the gravel garden. I love this garden. It’s so beautiful!!! Apparently the woman who owned this house before the Middletons was a garden designer which is why the courtyard looks so pretty. The view past the gravel garden. This is where the Marque was set up for the wedding’s dinner/dance. And from the real estate photos – an even further view of the property. Lovely!!! No wonder why the Middletons wanted to have the party here! This shows how the estate was set up for the dinner/dance. There is the main marque – the 140’ glass “tent.” Next to it is the white tent for the reception. The kitchen was probably set up in the smaller white tent or that is the “loo tent.” At the very back is the security. Today: The reception was held in the glass marquee. It was set up so that the garden courtyard faces the front of the marquee – and the guests could enjoy the garden view. To control traffic, guests arrived at another location where they parked their cars and were then driven in Range Rovers to the Middleton’s house. There were no cell phones allowed which is why there was not one photo of the party leaked on social media! The view from the left side/back of the house. Notice the side courtyard is now decorated with a new table & umbrella and newly refreshened stone. Eagle eyes can spot the truck that James Middleton drives! Hint: it’s green. This view shows the gentle rolling terrain of the estate. Located across from the house is Bucklebury Safari Park. You can see its parking lot in this photo. I wonder if that is where the party guests parked their cars???? Very busy!!! It took days for the marquee to be set up and decorated. Tall pink flowering trees were seen in the marquee days before the party. It had been rumored that there would be a Scottish theme to the wedding since the groom will be a titled Laird one day. The wedding was NOT Scottish themed and I doubt the party was either. although the did serve some Scottish food! Hard to believe this is a temporary building. It was said in the press that rental of the marquee costs over $200,000. At the side of the marquee, on the bottom part – they applied netting to hide the ground. Inside you can see there curtains in the marquee. ALSO - notice there are spotlights on the ground. These were used to keep photographers from seeing inside during the party and taking photos. It worked! Here you can see navy velvet sofas and green velvet pillows. They also had heaters set up in the marquee. This was taken the morning after the party!! It looks like they had a good time. The marquee set up for another wedding. This gives an idea of how it might have looked inside for supper. The first class outhouses!!! The “loos” were really special. Where did the Middletons live before they moved to their new house? Before the Middleton’s bought their current house, they lived here for a few years. This is where Kate spent her later teenage and college years. So charming behind the wood fence. A view of the cottage. The house looks a bit bigger from the air. While it wasn’t small, the house was not large enough for Kate and William and their two children to come and stay. A new house was needed after she married William. And here is where Kate spent her youth – in this classic English two story house. Inside: The living room. Pretty fireplace. It’s hard to believe that the future Queen of England lived here during her childhood! This is the shed where Carole Middleton started her now-multimillion $ party planning mail order business. And what about Pippa and James Matthews? Where will they live now that they are married? Since the couple already have two dogs and they already live together – they probably will just stay where they are now. The townhouse where Pippa and James live today. He bought the townhouse in 2014 for 17 Million Pounds. James bought this house in 2014 and he has submitted an extension for the second floor. He wants to add a bathroom with two sinks and a dressing room that leads off the master bedroom. Sounds like he wants to add this space for Pippa. There are Real Estate photos that show the front living room. This is not James’ furniture – this is how it looked when he bought the townhouse. Past the living room is the dining room and kitchen. A row of doors completely close off the kitchen from the dining room. Kate and William have decorated their houses in the classic English style. I’m so curious to know how Pippa will decorate this townhouse? The kitchen overlooks the back garden. Look at the island!! Those countertops!!! Since the living and dining room are open to the kitchen – the kitchen is very streamlined. The townhouse is so contemporary. Hard to imagine they will decorate it traditionally. The stairs wrap around a stone pillar and are contemporary, with open treads!! The basement family room opens to the courtyard. The basement family room opens to the garden, which is a floor below ground level. In London, there is a scandal surrounding these huge basements which are dug out and reach out past the footprints of the house above it. These are called “Iceberg Homes” – and the large basements hold kitchens, swimming pools, workout rooms, etc. and often include elevators. The more luxe, the better. Some basements encroach into the street, past the house above it and their neighbors are having serious foundation problems. If the house your house is too small, just dig out a few floors underground!!! Another view. The basement room opens to the courtyard and the stairs lead up to the garden level. The stairs on the right lead from the ground floor to the garden. Real Estate Photos: The master bedroom floor. The townhouse where Pippa and James will continue to live with their two dogs. Before James bought the white townhouse that he lives in now, he lived in another townhouse, shown above. Prior to dating Pippa, James was considered one of London’s most eligible bachelors. Needless to say, James is a very successful businessman. He graduated from private school but skipped college in to order to become a hedge fund trader. When Pippa and James became engaged, an old magazine spread of his former house was republished, in part probably to impress and embarrass at the same time. The old magazine story about James said that in 1998, when James was 22 years old, he and his brother (now deceased) bought this 1908 Grade II Listed house (pictured above) for just 1.75 million pounds. In 2006 when he decided to sell the townhouse, he elected to put it in the magazine in order to assure a quick sale – and it sold for 12.5 million pounds, quite a profit for a young, single man. Today, that 7 story, five bedroom house is worth much, much more than James sold it for. It recently sold for over 40 million pounds, which means about $55,000,000! When James bought the 21 room, 9,000+ sq ft house, it had been used as a business and had no bathrooms. It was in need of a total renovation which James accomplished with the help of his parents who took over the task completely. The living room is the most classically decorated room in the townhouse and gives you an idea of how his new house might be furnished. This room is very pretty in soft yellows and floral curtains. The bay window overlooks Park Street which is parallel to Park Lane. This exclusive location is one of the reasons for its price tag. It’s hard to believe a 22 year old lived in this house!!! I have to say I like this house better than the one they live in now. It’s not as contemporary. Here is James in the living room. Time has been kind to him – he is better looking today than he was 10 years ago, I hate to say it!!! Only men get better looking with age! The dining room has marble floors and has elaborate moldings. Notice the architraves above the doors. The foyer seen through the open door has checkerboard floors and a fancy staircase. This bedroom is my least favorite room. The art work is awful and the decor needs help. I wonder he moved this bed to his new townhouse? This bedroom has an odd hole in the wall that opens to the adjoining bathroom, kitchenette and study. A photo of his family is on the wall. From this floor you can go up to the roof terrace via the spiral staircase that you can see through the hole. The spiral staircase is behind the glass doors. The rooftop garden comes complete with a hot tub. Of course James installed a hot tub – he was a 22 year old bachelor!!! Can’t you tell from these photos of then young James that he would one day be even more successful and would marry one of England’s prettiest single girls? Their wedding went off without a hitch and nobody leaked anything on social media, except for the invitation that is! Here is an invitation to the dinner party/dance at The Manor – the Middletons estate in Bucklebury. I’m not sure who William and Clemence is – but their invitation was shown on Instagram!!! The Wedding, May 20th: Locals lined up early to get a view of the festivities. The wedding was scheduled to start at 12:00 noon. The Cambridges drove up that morning from London, about an hour’s drive. St. Mark’s Church. At the gate are the floral decorations for the wedding. A close up view of the floral decorations at the gate. The birds were chirping outside – and in the video, it sounded so pretty, exactly what you would think a quiet, small village in the English countryside would sound like. A close up of the flowers with the beautiful David Austin looking roses. Prince William and Prince Harry walking up to the church in their morning suits. They were chatting the entire time! Princess Eugenie, Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew’s youngest daughter came to the wedding with her boyfriend. Her older sister Princess Beatrice was not at the wedding. Next came the Parents of the Groom, Dave and Jane Matthews. She wore a mint green coat and dress with dark green shoes and purse. She wore a Fascinator, which is a tiny hat that sits on the crown of the head. Many of the younger set wear Fascinators today instead of full hats. The mother of the bride was walked to the church by her youngest, handsome son James. Carole wore a pink hat and a Catherine Walker dress. Walker was a favorite designer of Princess Diana. I preferred what Jane Matthews wore, I liked the longer length. But I thought that Carole looked very pretty in pink. The bride and her father were driven up in a vintage Jaguar. The arch around the door was decorated with roses. The roses were just gorgeous!!! Kate wore Alexander McQueen, in a peachy pink that matched the bridesmaids sashes. She also chose a Fascinator. Shh!!! Kate and Princess Charlotte share a huge laugh. But notice the page at front – he’s holding up two fingers to the other kids, he’s plotting to be naughty!! He gave this sign to the photographer and everyone in England was aghast at how “cheeky” he was! I have no clue what that sign means!!! But this page was the talk of the wedding. You would of thought he was a serial murderer!! Charlotte was too precious. The gate to the church ready for Pippa. And here is Pippa. She had a huge smile on her face all day long. She looked so happy!!!! Her dress was designed by Giles Deacon who apparently designed another one for the dinner/dance. I hope we get to see it soon! Stephen Jones made the veil and her shoes were Manola Blahniks. Kate fixed Pippa’s train, just like Pippa did for her, six years earlier. The Winchester Cathedral choir (wasn’t that a song in the 70s?) sang Be Thou My Vision; Tell Out, My Soul and I Vow To Thee, My Country. The groom’s brother Spencer Matthews read a passage from the Paulo Coelho novel, The ­Alchemist, while Pippa’s brother James read Love Is An ­Adventure by Pierre Tielhard du Chardin and a family friend read the Song of Solomon. Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, read a prayer. After an hour’s ceremony, the bells started peeling and the married couple appeared, led by the pages and maids throwing confetti. Prince William started to have a meltdown. Apparently a minute earlier he had accidently stepped on Pippa’s train and Kate had given him a warning to be careful. Smiling Pippa and Kate. I loved her Fascinator! Happy parents of the bride! The wedding party waiting for their cars. James and Pippa Matthews, the new couple. His parents are behind them, along with Michael Middleton. What a beautiful couple!!! Those flowers are so gorgeous!!! Kate trying to keep the kids happy. She always bends down when she talks to Charlotte. She seems like a great mom. And here is Prince George, starting his meltdown tantrum which was the talk of the wedding. The future King of England, crying. One day, he will get a good laugh out of this photograph. Kate means business. She is pointing her finger at Prince George – behave!!! Apparently George wasn’t the only crying child. Charlotte had to be comforted by her nanny after she started crying during the ceremony screaming “Where’s Mummy?” She’s only two. Tantrum over, he leaves in his vintage Jaguar, all smiles and waves. After the wedding, everyone went to have a champagne reception at the Englefield House. At four, the married couple drove through the estate’s gates, that had just been repainted for the event. They both have huge smiles – they waved to the locals that lined the way back to The Manor in Bucklebury. I wish we did weddings like this!!! So sweet! Everyone is so happy for them. After the wedding was over, they took photos of the church. Here you can see how the windows of the church were decorated with the greenery and roses. I’m in love with the flowers!!! At the arch, a faux tree trunk was filled with the greenery and roses. The tree trunks at the arches. Atop the columns, there were more roses! After the wedding reception, Prince Harry drove back to London to get his girlfriend Meghan Markle and together they drove back to Bucklebury for the wedding dinner/dance. So far, this is the ONLY photo of his girlfriend! She was said to wear a stunning maroon, backless dress. Before the party started at The Manor, they turned on the spotlights to keep the photographers away. It looks like they were still getting the marquee ready. A look at the floral arrangement in the marquee. As night fell and the spotlights were turned on, there was a flyover by the vintage Spitfire that did stunt flying for the guests enjoyment. Hmm. I don’t get that one. But look how pretty it all looks! The guests came outside to watch as it was considered too dangerous to be in the glass marquee in case something went wrong!!! Apparently, it started to rain after 15 minutes, which some guests said was a good thing as the air show was considered a bit boring. Inside, the waiters were said to all be part-time models or actors so that they were as attractive as the guests! Couples were not seated together to encourage more fun. Pippa changed dresses and wore a white floor-length gown with a v-neck and sparkle detailing. Her hair was worn down for the party and she was said to look absolutely beautiful. The women guests did not wear hats and the men wore black tie. Security was so tight at the party that guests had to send in a photograph prior to the party and produce a password to gain entry. Later at night, with the spotlights on full glare – the paparazzi still managed to get a few photos. Against the side of the house – they flashed huge photographs all night long. This one is of the groom. An extra 150 guests had been invited to the party than had been at the wedding. The menu included trout and Scottish lamb. There was a saxophonist, a band, and a DJ for dancing. There was a single malt whisky bar, and photo booths. Guests played ping pong. The marquee was decorated as an enchanted forest filled with faux trees. And here the marquee is lit up – with a green photo of a dancing girl on the house. The party is said to have lasted until 4 in the morning. Long day!!!! Where is the honeymoon? It has to something to do with Marlon Brando! When Brando filmed Mutiny on the Bounty on the French Polynesia island Tetiaroa, he bought the island and lived there for many years. Brando and Tarita became a couple and had children together. Today, it is an exclusive, ecologically sensitive resort that President Obama just stayed at! The atoll. Incredibly gorgeous. The rumor is this is where Pippa and James will honeymoon. It is probably true! The wedding is now over, but there is one guest that always intrigues me. The nanny!! Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s nanny was at the wedding in her uniform. It’s the uniform that gets me. Where would a nanny get a uniform from?!?! Apparently she went to college to earn that uniform! The nanny is Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo and she is a graduate of the prestigious nanny school, Norland College. Norland is located in the picturesque town of Bath. It was founded back in 1892 and it is extremely hard if not almost impossible to be selected to attend. Its nannies get the prime positions when they graduate after a 3 year course. Norland charges $36,000 pounds for their degree and hundreds apply for a class of 48 spaces. Maria, the Cambridge’s nanny, proudly wears her uniform at public events, but usually she just wears the working uniform of a plain sweater and slacks. Norland College updated their uniform a few years ago but for some reason Maria still wears the old version. At Charlotte’s christening, Nanny Maria greets the Queen who is smiling broadly at Maria. The new uniforms. I wonder why Maria hasn’t changed hers yet? Kate has said that Maria is the absolute best and she is devoted to her. Myself, I’m just fascinated by this Nanny uniform business. I can’t imagine someone wearing this here in the U.S. but it seems so normal in England!!! Look how happy those nannies are! Mary Poppins suddenly makes more sense. Here is Nanny Maria in her regular working uniform of slacks and white shirt and blue sweater. I love the security guard glaring at the photographer! Whew! A Mazel Tov to Pippa and James and a long, happy life. I’m sure Pippa will be ‘broody’ soon. For Fun: I wanted to find a dress that looked like Kate’s for a fraction of the cost, but that was impossible! So, I went for inexpensive dresses that would have been great on Kate for the wedding. I DID find her fabulous shoes, though!! Enjoy! This is a long version, simple but elegant. HERE I like this length, and with some extras. HERE Above the knee with a ruffle HERE Love this sleeve and the length. Love this! HERE Long with a ruffle HERE Kate’s gorgeous heels by Gianvito Rossi HERE – they come in all colors, but I love this nude for everything. Nude casual HERE

Follow in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth I at Englefield Estate, where manicured gardens, ancient woodland and a deer park surround its private residence and venue featured in the film The King’s Speech.

On the recommendation of her mother, Carole, the Duchess of Cambridge’s sister has had five meetings with the vicar of St Mark’s Church in Englefield, Berkshire, over wedding preparations.

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The couple, who were dressed to impress in their wedding outfits, were seen driving through London as they made the 50 mile journey to St Mark's Church in Berkshire.

Englefield Estate a.k.a. X-Mansion

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The French House

Llegan los primeros invitados a la boda de Pippa Middleton y James Matthews. Nueve meses después de anunciar su compromiso, Pippa Middleton y James Matthews, se dan el “si, quiero”, hoy sábaso en la iglesia de St Mark del condado de Englefield.Comienzan a llegar los invitados, apróximadamente 120, casi menos que compañeros de prensa y que viviran en directo en…

Despite rumours of a Scottish-themed dress code, guests opted for an array of eye-catching colours as they arrived at St. Mark's Church on the private Englefield estate.

Spencer Matthews looked in good spirits as he attended his 41-year-old brother James Matthews' wedding to Pippa Middleton, 33, in Surrey's Englefield Green on Saturday.

The Swiss sporting star was joined by his glamorous wife Mirka, 39, for the nuptials of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews at Englefield estate, Berkshire, this morning.

The couple, who were dressed to impress in their wedding outfits, were seen driving through London as they made the 50 mile journey to St Mark's Church in Berkshire.

The couple, who were dressed to impress in their wedding outfits, were seen driving through London as they made the 50 mile journey to St Mark's Church in Berkshire.

Llegan los primeros invitados a la boda de Pippa Middleton y James Matthews. Nueve meses después de anunciar su compromiso, Pippa Middleton y James Matthews, se dan el “si, quiero”, hoy sábaso en la iglesia de St Mark del condado de Englefield.Comienzan a llegar los invitados, apróximadamente 120, casi menos que compañeros de prensa y que viviran en directo en…

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge may not be celebrating Christmas at Sandringham with the rest of the royal family this year, but they nevertheless exhibited pitch perfect Christmas day style as they attended church in Englefield, Berkshire with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and the rest of the Middleton family this morning.

Technorati Tags: The Crown,The Crown Set Locations In the last blog post - “The Crown - Part One” – we examined the movie sets that were used to portray both Buckingham Plaza and Clarence House. Today, in “The Crown - Part Two,” we will discuss Sandringham House, the Queen’s country house located in Norfolk. Today, Sandringham is where the Royal Family spends Christmas. The entire extended family gathers on Christmas Eve for dinner and then, the next day, they attend Church services on the estate. Since we are now celebrating the Christmas season – I thought this would be the perfect time to visit Sandringham !!! Sandringham Estate. Since the Elizabethan Era, there has always been a house of some sorts standing on the Sandringham land, and in 1771, a new, large, white manor known as Sandringham Hall was built there. Later, Queen Victoria’s son, The Prince of Wales, aka King Edward VII, was searching for a country house for himself and his new bride, Princess Alexandra. In 1862, his duchy purchased the white manor house for the newlyweds. The Prince’s father, and Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert, had wanted his son to have his own estate to further the idea of the royals as being genteel landed Country Gentlemen. The Sandringham Estate was chosen in part because the shooting was excellent and also because the Norfolk landscape reminded the young Princess Alexandra of her native Denmark. The comparison between Norfolk and Scandinavia is not an accident. Sandringham lies right off the North Sea on the area called Doggerland, which is where there once was a land bridge between England, and Scandinavia. Since the lands were once linked, it is no wonder the area reminded Alexandra of her homeland. The royals Alexandra and Edward VII As the young couple began having children, they quickly outgrew their new house. To make room for a larger home, the old white house was demolished, save for its Conservatory, which was incorporated into the new house. The Garden Side: Here is the original white manor house before it was torn down. To the right of the house – you can plainly see its red brick conservatory. The conservatory was NOT torn down, but instead was kept and turned into the billiards room for Edward VII. This move was very important since the red brick Jacobean facade of the conservatory provided the design for the new Sandringham House. Later – a new, one story wing was added to the right of the conservatory/billiards room to house a bowling alley!! A photo of the original red brick conservatory which remained from the old white house. If the conservatory had not be save - Sandringham House would look completely different today. A rare rendering of the newly built Sandringham House, showing the then one story wing to the right of the house which housed the billiards room and the bowling alley. Later, after a fire, a second story was added onto this wing, creating what the house looks like today. This is the only photo I could find of the complete house with its original one story wing!! And I tried…trust me!!! A side view of the new billiards room and the new one story wing that housed the bowling alley. Queen Alexandra took this photo of her grandchildren at Sandringham House from the Garden Side – with awnings at the windows! Those beautiful trees must have died over the years. Today – the lawn on the garden side is bare of trees. And today – from the Garden Side. The main section is on the left. In the center is the original conservatory and to the right is the wing that King Edward VII added to house the bowling alley. On top of that one story wing – after the fire - he later added the second story, along with 18 bedrooms. The second story was forever known as the “Bachelor Wing.” The Front Side: 1870 - The view of the original house from the Front Side. The entrance to the house is under the porte cochere. To the far left is the back side of the original conservatory turned billiards room. Later, Edward VII added a new ballroom and clock tower wing – that had it’s own entrance on the Front Side. What is interesting is that the stone arched entrance seen here at the very left side is no longer there – it was incorporated into the ballroom wing when it was added. This is a very rare view of Sandringham House without the ballroom wing – again, the only one I could find!! And today. The ballroom wing is at the far left. After Edward VII added the two wings and the 18 bedrooms to the second floor, major alterations at Sandringham stopped. Until Queen Elizabeth, that is. She had 90 rooms demolished from the over 350 rooms palace! An aerial view of the Front Side clearly shows the ballroom wing that was added to the courtyard. Notice the backside of the long wing on the garden side – it looks very plain, even unfinished in this view!! This is the area that was damaged in the fire and 18 bedrooms were added on top of the wing. Another aerial view of the house from the Front Side with the Ballroom. To the left is where the museum is now housed. You can also see one of the lakes in this view. Another view of the entrance court – with the ballroom at the front center in the middle of the long facade. A larger view of the rather plain facade on the left wing. In the 1970s, Queen Elizabeth had 90 service rooms on the south side torn down to make the estate more efficient. Is it possible that these rooms were a part of this area and that is why it looks so forlorn? In the bottom very left corner –the tiny white round building is the original Victorian game larder. Sandringham was said to have the largest (or second largest) game larder in existence. Close up stylized view of the entrance court with the Porte Cochere. Across is the Ballroom Entrance in the Clock Tower. The Garden Side: Notice the beautiful brick work on the bowling alley wing. A side view of the original Conservatory from the white manor house – with its three brick arches. This entrance – on an angle – was a later addition which leads to both the dining room at the left and the billiard room at the right of the door. The north side of the original wing. The Jacobean architecture on this section is quite attractive. King Edward VII’s suite of offices opened up to this side of the house. These extensive gardens were a much later addition. The most picturesque view of Sandringham House is taken from across its pond. The first royals to live at Sandringham House: Seated, Mary, Duchess of York, with Prince Edward of York (later Duke of Windsor), Queen Alexandra (with Prince Henry, later Duke of Gloucester) and King Edward VII. The Duke of York, later King George V, is standing behind his mother and wife. When Sandringham House was built by Edward VII, all the modern amenities of the day were used, including gas lights, flushing toilets, and a shower! After he saw an American styled bowling alley at another grand house, Edward promptly had one built at his own house. Years later, he had the two lanes removed in order to create a large library – something he had also seen at another house. Apparently its shelves were filled with pretty, but worthless books that had to be discarded later in order to make room for more appropriate books. Alexandra was unhappy about the loss of the bowling alleys, which she had enjoyed. Today, the Sandringham Estate is located on over 20,000 acres and it is one of just two private homes owned by the Royal Family. When the Duke of Windsor abdicated the throne, he had to sell his personal ownership of Sandringham House to the new king, his brother Bertie. Balmoral, the Scottish estate, is the other private estate of the royals. While Sandringham House is large with over 300 rooms – most are said to be relatively small, especially the bedrooms. Sandringham has the reputation of being a very comfortable family home. Previous generations of royals used the estate much more than it is used today, when the Queen visits only during the deepest winter months. While the Queen stays ensconced at Sandringham from Christmas Eve until February – the holiday decorations are kept up until after she leaves. The Queen also marks the anniversary of her father’s death at Sandringham – where he indeed, did die in February of 1952. Bertie was also born on the estate at York House, along with all of his siblings. John, his tragic brother, also died there, too. Many other royal have either been born or died at Sandringham including Queen Alexandra and her two sons Albert Victor and King George V, who all passed away there. King Olav V of Norway (a grandson of King Edward VII) was born on the estate in 1903. And famously, Diana, Princess of Wales was born on Sandringham – at Park House - where she grew up before her father moved to Althorp when he inherited his title. Today, Park House has been turned into a hotel for disabled guests by Queen Elizabeth. William and Kate live at Anmer Hall which is also on the estate, although a few miles away. Previously, Anmer Hall was the country home of the Duke of Kent. Sandringham Estate is historically most famous for its excellent shooting and over the generations, scores and scores of royal shooting parties have been hosted there. The shoots were legendary – during Edward VII time, over 14,000 birds were recorded shot during season. Rabbits were another popular target. Nothing was wasted and birds and rabbits that were not used at Sandringham or by its guests were delivered to the hospitals and other charities. The excesses of Sandringham’s shoots are today reviled by the public. Along with hunting, Edward was a very talented horse breeder. He established the Royal Stud at Sandringham which produced two legendary racehorses, one which won the Triple Crown in 1900. The Queen is very active in Sandringham’s Royal Stud. A new sculpture of her legendary horse, Estimate, was just unveiled in the front courtyard. Besides sports, Sandringham’s gardens and lakes are also popular attractions and through the years, the estate land has been well cared for. Since the 1950s, over 2 million trees have been planted on the estate. King George V even planted an apple orchard there and today, its apples are prized, and the juices are quite profitable. After King Edward VII died in 1910 his wife Alexandra continued to live at Sandringham House until her death in 1925. The then King George V and his wife Mary stayed at York Cottage all those years until his mother’s death. Normally the non-ruling spouse moves out of the royal house immediately – but since Sandringham is privately owned, the King had left the house in his will to his wife. Today, the sovereign wills the house to his heir instead. Recently, it was reported that Prince Philip was gradually relinquishing control of Sandringham estate to Prince Charles. I do wonder what will eventually happen to all their houses. When Queen Victoria died, her heir Edward VII gave her country house Osborne House to the government. He loved Sandringham and did not want to give it up for Osborne House. Today, Prince Charles loves his own county house, Highgrove, so much and has put his entire soul into its gardens, that I can’t imagine he will sell it and move to Sandringham or Windsor when he becomes monarch. And then there is the heir-apparent Prince William. He just spent a small fortune (actually a large fortune) renovating Anmer Hall – it’s difficult to imagine he will just sell it and move on to Highgrove. I’m sure the royals have a plan for all their real estate – they just haven’t told us yet!!!! I found an unfinished floorplan of Sandringham and added the room labels. Some of the labels may not be absolutely accurate. I tried! Sandringham House - The Interior: When you enter Sandringham at the courtyard – you first walk into the Entrance Hall that is attached to the Saloon, above. The Saloon has two sections: the single height Entrance Hall and the double Height Saloon section. This room once doubled as a ballroom – until the wing with the new ballroom was built. The Saloon here looks like a hunting lodge, which Sandringham really is. The gas lights and the large mantel are no longer in the present Saloon. BEFORE: A closer view of the tall, former mantel in the Saloon. You enter the rest of Sandringham’s rooms through this doorway in the Saloon. All the rooms flow off a series of halls, one of which is seen here. Across this hall you can see into the White Drawing Room. I love the books piled up on the side table – it looks like this really was truly once a family home. Notice the two settees that flank the doorway, along with the statues. I love this! Queen Alexandra serves high-tea in the Saloon. She said she was so happy when the ballroom was built so that the furniture in the Saloon didn’t have to be moved away anymore. Looking at the opposite direction in the early Saloon – at the series of columns and arches that separate the Saloon from the Entrance Hall. In this view, you can see the second fireplace in the Entrance. I love that desk!!! The front door opens directly to this Entrance Hall behind the columns. Today – the Saloon looks quite different than it once did. When George V and Mary moved in, they got rid of much of Queen Alexandra’s Victorian excesses. Later, when Bertie and the Queen Mother arrived – they simplified the great hall – painting all the dark molding on the ceiling a soft cream. A new smaller mantel was installed and the doors flanking the fireplace were hidden away behind jib doors. Above, a gorgeous tapestry was added that still hangs today, along with two others on the right wall. Also – the darker wood floor – either was bleached, or it was replaced with stone. Notice the desk that I like is still there today – on the left side of the Saloon. In the foreground, the round marquetry table with the Prince of Wales feathers is quite beautiful. Today. A rare view taken in the hallway, from the side door in the Saloon, looking towards the fireplace. Today: Looking from the large area of the Saloon back towards the Entrance Hall through the wood arches. Two dark Oriental screens flank the arches and probably help divert the winds. An antique French bench sits in front of the Saloon’s fireplace – this has been a popular place for photoshoots over the years. Well, well, well! It’s true! The Queen DOES loves to watch TV. Just like in The Crown – the Queen is said to love to watch certain shows on TV. Here, two of her corgis keep her company, along with her younger boys, Prince Andrew and Edward. Can you see the jib door behind the Queen? A more recent photoshoot of the Queen and the Prince in front of the fireplace. Another view with the Queen’s dog showing off for the camera!! Too cute!! Today: A new photo of the Entrance Hall. While the Saloon is double height, the Entrance Hall has a regular height ceiling. The previously mentioned marquetry table is on the left, as are the two oriental screens which divide the entrance from the Saloon. In the middle is a seat scale – Edward VII would weigh guests when they came and departed – to be sure they gained weight from the good food!!!! Notice the two garden seats flanking the door. I love the decor here. OK. I’ll say it. I would love to decorate a royal home!!! Especially this one!!! Today. The grand staircase off the main corridor is decorated with a series of horse paintings. BEFORE: The doors in the Saloon lead to the main corridor which runs from the North Entrance. Here, it was once filled with trophies – these are now located in the museum housed in the former carriage house behind the main house. Today. To the left is the Saloon, with the curtains at the doorway. The corridor with the red carpet leads to the ballroom wing (I think!.) The hall is lined with a small part of the Royals huge collection of antique weapons. Before: Directly across the main hall from the Saloon is the series of drawing rooms. Here, is the large White Drawing Room which is divided into two areas. Originally, King Edward VII had this curtain installed between the larger and smaller areas to give the illusion the drawing room was actually two rooms. Queen Mary promptly had the drape removed once she moved in. The portrait of Queen Alexandra is still above the same mantel today. To the right of the fireplace – is a large bay window, where the piano is located today. Today – a bad photo of the White Drawing Room – showing the smaller space with the Queen’s painting. When Princess Charlotte was christened at Sandringham this year – the family took their photograph in front of Alexandra’s portrait. Today: A close up of the small side of the White Drawing Room with its pretty French styled furniture. Connecting to this room through those doors – is the dining room. Princess Charlotte’s christening – taken in the White Drawing Room. Notice that the photographer photoshopped the sconces out!!! Today: The bay window to the right of the fireplace with the Queen’s portrait. Years before – the families would linger out this door to the awning-covered terrace that runs along the west side of the house. Today – since the house is used only in the depths of winter, no lingering is spent outside!!!! Before: The Garden Terrace on the West side – outside the White Drawing Room where awnings provided a place for the Queen to serve tea to visitors. Before: The other side, the larger area, of the white drawing room. I love the divan at the right of the fireplace! Today. The White Drawing Room, looking from the smaller space to the larger area. The second fireplace has a mirror over its mantel and is flanked by two French doors that are mirrored. Through the left door is a second, small drawing room. And past the curtain on the left is a second large bay window. The feminine White Drawing Room with its French furniture is considered the prettiest room in the house. Here the Royals met with the Prime Minister from New Zealand in the bay window area of the larger side of the White Drawing Room. Outside the windows is the terrace that overlooks the extensive gardens. Today: Another view of the larger side of the white drawing room. Through the open French door is the what is called the Small Drawing Room: Before: The Small Drawing Room, with its collection of Dresden china and the Dresden chandelier – all gifts from Wilhelm II. Through the door is the White Drawing Room. Before: The back view of the Small Drawing Room – with the settee and short bookcases that wrap around the walls. Today: The Small Drawing Room in aqua and cream. You can see much is the same as it was under Edward VII – the mirror, the bookshelf on the left, and the glass shelves flanking the fireplace. There is new wallpaper and fabrics though. Through the open door is the larger White Drawing Room. Another view of the Small Drawing Room. A screencap from the Queen’s Christmas Message taken in the Small Drawing Room. Here, you can see the two windows that overlook the western terrace with it garden view. From this view, you can really tell how vast the lawn is. Another screencap – here you can see the detail in the curtains along with a look into the White Drawing Room. The Queen’s annual Christmas message is aired on Christmas Day. The family watches the message together at Sandringham when they return from Church. The Queen is said to watch it alone, in another room. BEFORE: The dining room – was originally painted dark with a set of murals given to Edward VII by King Alfonso XII of Spain – a nephew by marriage. Apparently – when first given, the murals were very bright. Over the years they have faded, but for a while, critics said they weren’t fading fast enough!!! TODAY: Besides remodeling the Saloon, Bertie and Elizabeth decorated the dining room, painting it light green, a color Elizabeth had seen at Braemar Castle near Balmoral. Through the double door is the White Drawing Room – the door is next to Alexandra’s portrait. Today: Another view of the opposite direction. The door by the fireplace opens onto the corridor that leads to the billiards room and the ballroom wing. TODAY: This unique room was decorated in the Turkish fashion. Notice how similar the fireplace looks to those in the Topkapi Palace. This room, decorated by Carl Haag, has remained exactly the same through the decades. BEFORE: The King’s Morning Room – where he had breakfast each day. Of all the Victorian decor, I love the way this room looks!! I couldn’t find a photo of what it looks like today, though. BEFORE: The ballroom corridor. The long halls that lead from the house to the ballroom wing – here is how it was decorated. Today: The ballroom corridor lined with books and bronzes. Today: Another section of corridor leading to the ballroom – is lined with gun cabinets. Seeing all the guns reminds you that Sandringham was once a very important hunting spot. Today, the Royal Family is much more concerned with visuals and are rarely seen shooting although Prince Charles was seen recently with a gun, something that he has not been photographed doing for years and years. At the end of the bowling/library wing is a room where all the guns were kept. Not sure if they are still kept there today. Before: The new ballroom has large windows at both ends with a fireplace in the middle. Weapons from an Asian tour line the leather covered walls. Today, the windows at this end of the room are covered up for some reason. Maybe the view at the back of the house is not appealing? BEFORE: An early view with a white tiger skin hanging from the mistral’s gallery. BEFORE: Another early photo. That tiger skin! Something you would never see today!! BEFORE: A rare photo of Christmas! The family places long tables with ribbons dividing the table top into areas for each member of the family where their presents are placed. Diana’s first Christmas was a disaster when she presented everyone with pricey gifts. The family gives gag gifts and homemade ones only. Once Prince Harry gave his grandmother, the Queen, a shower cap that read “Ain’t Life A Bitch.” Princess Anne once gave her brother Charles a white leather toilet seat – that he still uses! And Kate gave Harry a – ‘Grow Your Own Girlfriend’ kit. Apparently, the funnier the gift, the better. TODAY: Birds eye view of the ballroom, which is the largest room in the mansion. Bertie and Elizabeth remodeled the ballroom, removing the leather on the walls and replacing it with wallpaper. Her mother-in-law Queen Mary brought the crystal chandeliers over from Buckingham Palace. TODAY: The ballroom also doubles as a movie theatre. BEFORE: The billiard room – this was the room created out of the original conservatory in the former house. It is said to be one of the brightest rooms in the house. Again, no current photo of this room. BEFORE: This photo shows the light fixture with shades, which looks so much better. BEFORE: King Edward VII had seen an American style bowling alley and wanted one of his own. He built the long single story wing past the billiards room to house the alleys. Here, you can see it was actually two lanes!!! The left wall was painted with murals, the right wall had windows that looked out onto the garden side of the house. Very pretty curtains! Later, the King saw a library that he wanted, so books were brought in – you can see them at the left. Eventually – the bowling lanes were removed, much to Alexandra’s dismay!! TODAY: The long library. When it was first furnished with the books, they were bought for their pretty bindings – but the books were of such poor quality, they had to all be replaced. Look in the back left corner of the room – that is a false door that looks like part of the bookcase. That faux door actually fits in the recess and a proper door is hiding behind it! The library was said to be very important to the family, Edward VII especially, and they would all gather together in here to use it. Somehow I doubt that is something the Royals do today. The room looks like it is never used much at all. Sad to think of all the old happy days. A screencap from a documentary shows the library. In the back left corner, the regular door is seen here. This may be the door to the gun room at the end of this wing. The young Queen in the library about to record one of her Christmas Messages. Before: The Business Office with its corner fireplace and a skirted table!!! Through the door is the Saloon – where the jib door flanking the fireplace is today. George V in the Business Office – delivering the first radio Christmas Message in 1932. This became a tradition that lasted for decades. Today – the message is televised. The Queen gives her first Christmas message from the Business Office. That tufted chair looks like the ones from the original Small Drawing Room. Today: a screencap from the documentary. That door leads right to the Saloon. Through the window is the front courtyard of Sandringham. Since this was the Business Office, it was noted to be rather plain. Before: To the right of the front Entrance Hall is a trio of the King’s private rooms, including this library. The Equerries room is seen through the door. This was his main library before the one in the bowling alley was built. And the Equerries room. One room was said to be in blue and the other was decorated in red. Upstairs – the Queen in her private office. A larger view of her office/private drawing room. The Sandringham Estate was its own private country. There was a dairy that churned butter and milk, a hospital for sick Royals, a stud farm where race horses were bred, a large kennel for all the hunting dogs, a school, and much much more. Surrounding the big house were a series of small and smaller houses for relatives and employees. Everything that was needed to sustain life on the estate was once found there. There is even a church. The church at Sandringham dates to the 16th century and was restored both in 1855 and in 1890. Queen Alexandra didn’t believe you should ride in the carriage on the Sabbath, so the royals walked to church, a tradition that some still follow today. The church at Sandringham. While the outside is charming, the inside is beautiful – and probably very awe inspiring, as is expected from the Royals. Walking to Princess Charlotte’s christening, the most beautiful family ever? And a recent Christmas, the royals walking to church. The Queen no longer walks – she is driven in her car. In 1848, this print of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria with their Christmas tree was shown in a magazine. Since the Prince was German, the Christmas tree was a more familiar tradition on his side of the family. This very picture is said to be what inspired the world to get their own Christmas tree! The Queen made this claim, that her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, started the Christmas Tree tradition. Now, I don’t know that this is true, but I would love to believe it! It is such a charming tale AND tree!!! Sandringham was built by King Edward VII and his Queen lived there for many years after this death. Their children grew up at Sandringham and it was a much loved country house. But, in reality – it was his son, George V who grew to love the estate even more and be more associated with it. Sandringham was a huge presence in George V’s family life. His children were all born at York Cottage, where they had lived until Queen Alexandra passed and since George V died in 1936 – he was only able to in the big house for approximately 11 years. He is famous for this quote “Dear old Sandringham, the place I love better than anywhere else in the world.” His son, George VI, or Bertie as he was known, lived at Sandringham from 1936 – until his death at 1952. Bertie was born and died at Sandringham, and it was a very important part of his life. He wrote “I have always been happy here and I love the place.” The Crown filmed many important scenes at “Sandringham” – but unfortunately, the Royals would not allow the production to actually film there. The hunt for a manor to stand in Sandringham produced this: Englefield House, is located in Berkshire. The land had been in the Englefield family since the time of King Edgar in the 900s. Originally built in 1558, the house on the estate was razed and rebuilt in 1820. It is now held by the Beynon Family. Like Sandringham Estate, Englefield occupies over 20,000 acres. It’s a popular house for films and The King’s Speech used it too. While Sandringham is on the flat land just a few miles from the North Sea, Englefield’s terrain is a hour from London, and is a bit more hilly. Still, Englefield is definitely grand enough to stand in for Sandringham. Like Sandringham, the estate has its own church – which in The Crown, the family drives by while the citizens wave to greet them – just exactly how it is done at Sandringham!!! The church at Englefield. It looks very much like Sandringham’s church, down to the gate. The Crown: Here the family arrives at Sandringham for Christmas. The crowds are waiting – just as it is in real life. It’s actually hard to see this as fake – it looks so much like Sandringham. Englefield – here in this view, the mansion reminds me of Sandringham so much with its gravel courtyard and stone porte-cochere. Englefield: There is a two story entrance, like at Sandringham. It doesn’t look too pretty in these AWFUL pictures, but it really looks gorgeous in The Crown. Englefield: The main hall on the first floor off the entrance. The stairs are to the right. These photos are just terrible, unfortunately. The Crown: Princess Margaret steals a kiss from her lover. That art work is a bit spooky. I love the fireplace! The crew used all the furniture here from Englefield – just changing out the center table. The Crown: Another view of this scene. The Crown: The entrance connects with the front hall with the statues and wonderful cases on stands. It looks like the crew changed out the mirrors, for some reason? And they changed the rug, which was very much needed. The Crown: Several important scenes take place in the front hall. The Crown: Her grandmother, Queen Mary, curtsies to Queen Elizabeth for the first time. This scene is so powerful!!! Englefield: The red dining room. The Crown: The red dining room was turned into the King’s bedroom!!! They put the bed in front of the fireplace – and removed all the furniture, but they did keep the art work and the curtains!!! The Crown: A larger view of the dining room turned into the bedroom. The canopy bed was brought in to replace the dining table. Sandringham: In real life, the Royals are treated to tunes by a brass band on Christmas Eve at Sandringham! You can see the Royals in the doorway listening to the band. The Crown: Art Imitates Life – here the royals are serenaded on Christmas Eve. Englefield looks so much like Sandringham in this scene!!! The Crown: The hall is decorated for Christmas as the carolers are led into the library. Englefield: Their library has been filmed for scores of movies because it is beautiful. The rug, the piano, the tables, the screen, and the BOOKS are all gorgeous!!! Shown here is an incredible desk. In other photos of the Englefield, the desk is actually in the stairhall. For The Crown, this beautiful desk is moved to the King’s study to star in other scenes. The Crown: For Christmas, the King gets a paper crown. These scenes with the dying King are some of the most emotional and well acted of the entire series. I hope Jared Harris wins a Bafta and/or Emmy for his acting! He is incredible in The Crown. The Crown: Another view of Christmas Eve with the carolers. The Crown: Later the King and Margaret sing a duet – which is a tear jerker!! Look at the molding over the door!!! Margaret’s dress in this scene was beautiful. The Crown: And here the King turns around and sings to the family. Remember, the King had a terrible speech impediment. For him to sing in front of his family was very difficult for him, on top of the fact that he felt so poorly from his lung cancer. Englefield: And, here is the drawing room – in peach and red?! Englefield: Another view of the drawing room. It’s a very pretty room, especially in the daytime. The Crown: Instead of a drawing room, this becomes the King’s office. Here a young Princess Elizabeth sneaks into her father’s domain and tries it out for size. The production crew removed most of the upholstered furniture – which was all replaced for the movie. The crystal chandelier, the rug, and the large mirror remained. The Crown: Here, with the red curtains open, you can see how pretty the room can look! The Crown: In another scene, a father-daughter talk, except here, the King knows he is dying and his daughter will be Queen when he goes. He is trying to get her ready. In reality, she was ready and has proven to be a highly effective and much loved monarch. Her only misstep happened after Princess Diana died. The Crown: The desk is so beautiful. This desk was seen in both the library and the stairhall location photos of Englefield. This is a screencap, yet it looks so beautiful!! Like a painting, almost. The view outside is of the rolling landscape – very very different from the real flat land of Sandringham. From the outside, Englefield looks HUGE – and I’m sure it is but in the location photos, it looks much smaller. Englefield: The second floor overlooks the double height entry hall – which allows for staff to spy on Princess Margaret. Englefield: The second floor as it truly is. Nothing was changed here during the filming of several very important scenes. The Crown: Here on the second floor, Queen Elizabeth is greeted by her family for the first time as Queen. I love the way this hall is decorated with large, antique chests and garden seats. The Crown: And since this IS Sandringham after all – several shooting scenes were filmed. Here the King takes Prince Philip shooting. The Crown: And here, the movie’s stud farm at Sandringham. There are several scenes at the stud farm with Porchey and the Queen. I tried for DAYS!! DAYS!! to find where The Crown filmed the stud farm. I just couldn’t find the location. I’m so sorry!!! I had to finally give it up so I could finish the story. I will say, it’s a beautiful stable, wherever it is!! The Crown: The Queen and Porchey welcome their champion horse back home. Porchey. Here’s a photo of Porchey, Lord Porchester. He is so much better looking than the actor that plays him! Wow! Isn’t he handsome!! And another photo where Porchey is older. The actor who plays him is short and a bit heavy, not tall and trim like Porchey was. There were rumors about the Queen and Porchey – even some saying that Porchey was Prince Andrew’s father. It reminds me of people who claimed Prince Harry was actually the son of Diana’s lover, not Prince Charles. I don’t believe that the Queen was EVER unfaithful!!! But, the rumors were out there, unfortunately. Most interesting is Porchey grew up here, at Highclere, his family seat. Look familiar? Yes, it’s the fictional Downton Abbey. It is said that the Queen loved to watch Downton Abbey because she had spent so much time at Highclere and knew the real “stories” about it. Porchey had a fascinating history. His grandfather was a mean, abusive man, as was his grandmother, Lady Almina – an illegitimate Rothschild heir. His grandfather discovered the tomb of King Tut and died just a few months later – from an insect bite, but it was said he fell victim to the King Tut curse. If you like history – it’s an interesting google search. I had no idea that when I started to write this story about The Crown’s Sandringham set, that I would learn something about King Tut! More to come…. And since we are Jewish and our Christmas season is always rather quiet, I may continue to write throughout. But in case I don’t – I want to say today: Here’s to all of you, in this season of reflection, reverence, and celebration - A wish for you all - a very, very Merry Christmas!!! Beautiful blue & white tree by Eleven Gables HERE – visit for a Bloggers Christmas Home Tour!

Across a sea of pageboys and bridesmaids, a delighted Duchess of Cambridge exchanges smiles with her newly married sister as the happy couple pose for photographs.