A historic playhouse gifted to Queen Elizabeth II remains at Royal Lodge as Prince Andrew moves to Marsh Farm, with historians suggesting it could return to Wales
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is reportedly gearing up for his imminent relocation to Marsh Farm in the coming days. He vacated Royal Lodge in Windsor last month and has been temporarily residing at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate.
As his possessions are transported northwards, one cherished piece of royal history that’s been in his custody for several years is unlikely to accompany him. Nestled in the garden of Andrew‘s previous home is Y Bwthyn Bach, Welsh for “The Little Cottage.”
The full-sized playhouse was presented to the future Queen Elizabeth II on her sixth birthday by the people of Wales in 1932 and has been dubbed “the most glamorous Wendy house ever.”
The petite two-storey thatched cottage, designed by architect Edmund Willmott in the style of a traditional Welsh dwelling, boasts a kitchen, living room and an upstairs bedroom and bathroom.
It comprises four rooms in total and even features a plumbed-in kitchen and bathroom with hot and cold running water, electricity and a heated towel rail in the bathroom.
The playhouse’s kitchen is fully kitted out with a functioning fridge, gas cooker, and a blue-and-white porcelain dining and tea set.
In the lounge, a mini radio is operational, a small oak dresser sits tidily and a bookshelf is filled with the much-loved tales of Beatrix Potter.
A portrait of Elizabeth’s mother, the Duchess of York, hangs above the oak mantelpiece, adding the finishing touch to the delightful interior, reports the Express.
Constructed from surplus materials during the redevelopment of Llandough Hospital, Bwthyn Bach has delighted successive generations of royals.
Control of the playhouse transferred to Andrew during his tenure as Duke of York, with him reportedly shouldering its upkeep costs
His daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, were among the next generation to enjoy the cottage.
Princess Beatrice subsequently spearheaded a refurbishment of the playhouse and characterised it in a 2012 BBC documentary commemorating Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee as “the most glamorous Wendy house ever.”
Following Andrew’s withdrawal from royal responsibilities, the playhouse’s destiny remains unclear. Buckingham Palace has confirmed that Y Bwthyn Bach is formally owned by King Charles III, according to the BBC.
Academics have proposed it might even be returned to Wales, possibly to St Fagans, to acknowledge its roots and historical importance.
Historian Dr Elin Jones told the BBC: “Both the Royal Family and the governments of England and Wales have other things to think about, which are rather more pressing and important than a child’s plaything.
“But it could be argued that the best place for this little cottage…might be for it to come back to Wales and go to St Fagans as part of the history of our country.
“The house is an interesting expression of the loyalty felt by Welsh people towards the Royal family for centuries.”
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