Taking a look around my living room as I work from home, I wince at the sight of the clutter – dispersed toddler toys and pending piles of things to ‘sort’. But it is totally normal – it’s not like I live in a palace! It turns out that even royal residences have their relatable areas. It was refreshing to see Princess Anne’s “cluttered” living room during the coronavirus lockdown, and her countryside home is quite the tale of two halves.

The Princess Royal’s Grade II-listed Georgian manor, which was gifted to her by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1976 as a wedding present, has all the special features you’d expect a royal home to possess. The exterior is grand (some would say postcard-worthy, in fact), and the regal elements continue inside. Downstairs, there are four reception rooms, a billiard room and a library, as well as a conservatory, while upstairs boasts five main bedrooms and four secondary bedrooms.

© Alamy Stock Photo

The expansive 730-acre estate is also a telltale sign of its regal standing. The land features lakes and woodlands against the backdrop of the idyllic Gloucestershire hills. The amenities on site are a big nod to Anne’s equestrian career. Gatcombe not only has stables, but there are large paddocks to train horses. Whilst the estate is private, it has previously hosted the Gatcombe Horse Trials and the Festival of British Eventing.

© Mark Cuthbert

Princess Anne’s lived-in living room

Despite a plethora of high-society features, the home’s interiors are surprisingly relaxed, we discovered in 2020. When the royal family shared an image of Anne and her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, sitting down to watch a game of rugby, fans couldn’t help but comment on her un-royal surroundings. One penned: “Love it, feels like home,” and another agreed: “I love the lived-in cosy look.” A third added: “I love that their house looks like anyone’s house,” and I totally concur.

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The floral furnishings wouldn’t have looked out of place in Buckingham Palace, granted, but the rest of the room was surprisingly humble. The wooden furniture, piles of books and abundant ornaments gave the space a slightly cluttered feel. It also gave a sense of being a relaxed, lived-in space – worlds away from the more formal sitting rooms that we usually see royals host in.

Princess Anne’s party barn

Elsewhere on the estate, King Charles’ sister has a “party barn”, her daughter Zara Tindall and son-in-law Mike Tindall have previously revealed. When they gave Vogue Australia a rare interview in 2022, the team were invited to their home, Aston Farm, which sits on the Gatcombe Estate. The piece touched on the “party barn” in the centre of the estate, which has a bar and catering facilities, a giant screen and lounges.

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The decor is a departure from traditional interiors, too. Royal fans were able to see inside for themselves when rugby star Mike posed for a photo in the room. It features vaulted ceilings, wooden beams and chic panelling. It is believed that this could have even been the venue of choice for Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling’s wedding celebrations, as their reception was held on site.

Royalty may be well known for their soirees, but a barn bash seems much more low-key than a ballroom dance – and we love that Anne is always doing things differently.