After announcing that she was expecting again, the Princess Beatrice of York she will surely receive many gifts for the royal baby who will arrive next spring. But most likely, no gift will live up to what the daughter of Andrea and Sarah Ferguson he received from his beloved grandmother, the Queen Elizabeth died in 2022.
It’s no secret that the sovereign has always been very devoted to her grandchildren. She had a reputation for being an absent mother – for reasons linked to her position – but as a grandmother, she was much more attentive and present. Also because when William, Harry, Zara and other cousins were born, the role of the Queen was already well consolidated and she had more time (and attention).
Queen Elizabeth’s gift sold by Beatrix of York
Although it is true that for Queen Elizabeth, royal duties always took priority, the monarch was very generous and had the habit of giving significant gifts to her family members, especially on special occasions. HAS William and Katefor example, transferred the property of Amner Hall for their marriage celebrated in 2011. But Elizabeth never made a distinction between her grandchildren and in 1997 she offered a large villa in Surrey to Beatrice and her sister Eugenia. At the time, they were nine and seven years old respectively.
Birch Hall, a Georgian villa with seven bedrooms, a tennis court and a swimming pool. Inside there are also five lounges, four bathrooms and also a separate cabin with two staff bedrooms. For Queen Elizabeth, the ideal house where the girls could live with their mother Sarah Ferguson after her divorce from Prince Andrew. But there was never a move and the villa remained empty for years before being sold.
The reason? Fergie refused to move theredespite her deep bond with her mother-in-law even after separation from her ex-husband, as she could not bear the huge costs of running and maintaining such a structure. So, despite Elizabeth’s generosity, Birch Hall was never occupied by Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and the Queen’s dream of providing them with a special residence quickly faded.
Two years after the Queen’s gift, Birch Hall has been sold: the money was placed in a trust fund that the sisters could only access as adults. In 2016, the property was listed on the market for $4.2 million, having been renovated with even more spectacular features than the original. In fact, a games and multimedia room, a greenhouse and a gym have been added.
It certainly didn’t compromise Elizabeth and Beatrice’s relationship, given that the Queen honored her fifth granddaughter with other significant gifts. When the princess married Italian Count Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in 2020, she wore a dress that came straight from Her Majesty’s wardrobe. The wedding was celebrated with a very intimate and private ceremony due to the pandemic and among the few guests present were Elizabeth and Prince Philip.