While it is known that Balmoral Castle was the late Queen’s favourite residence thanks to the privacy she was afforded there, another home that held a deeply special place in her heart was Windsor Castle.
For her sixth birthday in 1932 Princess Elizabeth was gifted a miniature thatched cottage known as Y Bwthyn Bach, or The Little House, by the people of Wales. The house stands at just 22 feet wide and 15 feet high and was built by architect Edmund Charles Morgan Willmott.
Comprised of a living room, a kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom, the cottage also came complete with electric lighting and running water as well as cutlery, utensils and furniture. In February 1932, an insurance policy for the house was taken out in the name of Princess Elizabeth of York.
The cottage is still standing today and was a favourite toy of Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. It has since been used by many generations of royal children, including King Charles and Princess Anne.
The impressive home also made a guest appearance in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s self-titled Netflix series as they were pictured sitting inside pretending to drink cups of tea with their young children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
