‘Fears’ over Queen Elizabeth’s very glamorous playhouse at Royal Lodge now Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been evicted
It's soo cute!There is said to be concern over the future of Queen Elizabeth II’s childhood playhouse at Royal Lodge, amid Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s recent eviction.
The miniature two-storey thatched cottage, once dubbed the “most glamorous Wendy house ever,” was gifted to a 6-year-old Princess Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret by the people of Wales.
Queen Elizabeth’s Wendy house
Y Bwthyn Bach, Welsh for “The Little Cottage”, was built as a sixth-birthday present for the then-Princess Elizabeth.
The tiny house was designed by architect Edmund Willmott, who had previously built a less extravagant version for his own daughter to play in.
Intended as a symbol of love from the Welsh people, the cottage was built by Welsh craftsmen from materials left over from the construction of Llandough Hospital.
A two-third scale version of a normal house, it has four 5ft-high rooms, as well as its own front garden complete with hedges and flower borders.
The playhouse was even fitted with its own working telephone, electric cooker, fridge and running water.
Y Bwthyn Bach was presented to the late queen’s parents at a ceremony in Cardiff in April 1932. It was then installed in the grounds of the family’s home at the time, Royal Lodge in Windsor.
Andrew evicted from Royal Lodge
The cottage later fell into the hands of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as he moved into Royal Lodge in 2004.
Andrew reportedly paid for the playhouse’s upkeep, after his own daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, enjoyed their time playing in it.
In 2012, Beatrice led a year-long renovation of the cottage. She shared a sneak peek into the adorable house in a BBC documentary celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee.
“Granny and her sister played here growing up,” the princess gushed. “We have been lucky enough to play here, and cousins and second cousins.”
“It’s a big family treat,” she went on. “It’s the most glamorous Wendy house ever, it’s really beautiful.”
Now, with Andrew set to leave Royal Lodge, the future of The Little Cottage is unclear.
Last month, King Charles announced that he had “initiated a formal process” to strip Andrew of all his royal titles. He also issued his brother with a notice to vacate his Windsor home.
The decision followed years of scandal surrounding Andrew. This is largely due to his association with the late convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has also been accused of sexual assault by Virginia Giuffre, allegations he has always denied.
Royal Insider has contacted representatives of the royal family for comment on this story.
Read More: The case of the missing bouquet: ‘Disaster’ struck on Elizabeth II’s wedding day to Prince Philip
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