Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is everything you could want in one incredible piece of property. It’s one part fortress, one part castle, and one part small town, dating all the way back to the 11th century (when a fortress was something very much needed). The thirteen-acre royal estate belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II, and was one of her favorite places to get away from it all.
There are a number of ongoing projects that are developing Windsor Castle, upgrading and updating the experience for visitors. It’s the largest and oldest occupied classic in the world, founded by William the conqueror.
Althorp House
Plenty of members of the English royal family have had their homes in the beautiful Althorp House since it was built in its earliest format in 1508. The house is part of a thirteen thousand estate in Northamptonshire, Warwick, and Norfolk. Princess Diana was born and raised in the house.
It boasts huge private art and furniture collections, and not only hosts an annual Food and Drink Festival, but it’s open to the public in July and August every year at, apparently, affordable rates. Want a real royal experience? Prince Earl infrequently allows overnight guests, at the paltry sum of $25,000 a night. And up.
Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace used to be home to five different royal families: the former Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (now Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate), Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank, the Duke and Duchess of Kent (Prince Edward and his wife Katharine), The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (Prince Richard and wife Birgitte), and Prince Kent with his wife Baroness Marie.
This historic home has been the living quarters of numerous kings and queens, as well. State Rooms are open to the public, and the estate displays many pieces of art from the Royal Collection.
Palace of Zarzuela
The current residence of the reigning monarch of Spain, the Palace of Zarzuela is on the outskirts of Madrid. Although King Felipe VI has his office in the palace, he and his family currently live in a smaller mansion contained on the grounds, while his parents live in the palace itself.
Construction on the palace ended in 1635, and the building includes a palace theater, which was the place of origin for the Spanish genre of musical drama, zarzuela. “Zarzuela” may be derived from the word “zarzas,” which means brambles since the palace began life as a small lodge among the brambles of the King's Hunting Grounds.
Frogmore House
This house got its name from the teeming swarms of frogs that reside near the River Themes, but Frogmore is celebrated for its gorgeous landscape consisting of over four thousand trees and shrubs. King George III originally purchased the house in 1792 as a gift for his wife, Queen Charlotte.
It has since stayed in the family and now includes Frogmore Cottage, where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, used to live.