A Royal Residence

The final episode picks up the story in 1952 – at which point Sandringham House had been owned by the royal family for 90 years. During that time it had expanded into a truly enormous home with 364 rooms, including a bachelor's wing and stunning ballroom. But tragedy was about to strike… Nigel reveals that, on February 6th, 56-year-old King George VI died suddenly in his sleep at Sandringham House.

No one was more shocked by this news than his 25-year-old daughter Elizabeth. But the new Queen had little time to grieve; soon, she was back at Sandringham preparing for the biggest day of her life – her coronation.

Raksha gets a glimpse into what life was like in Sandringham house at that time, thanks to the private diary of the man who designed the Queen's stunning coronation dress – meanwhile JJ Chalmers discovers what was involved in Elizabeth's first Sandringham Christmas as Queen, which kicked off some very surprising new traditions that continue to this day.

Later, JJ gets to see what Sandringham looks like from above whilst learning about the devastating flood that threatened the Estate – whilst Nigel discovers what was involved in frugal Prince Philip's ingenious money-saving schemes at Sandringham, including a very surprising decision: opening the doors of the private country home to the paying public. Nigel reveals how, in the 1970s, eager visitors flocked into Sandringham for the bargain price of 30p per person (£1.60 in today's money).

But by 2021, Philip's health deteriorated and he sadly passed away on the 9th April. Just over a year later Queen Elizabeth also died, and Sandringham was inherited by their son: King Charles. Now, Charles is the 5th generation of royal to own Sandringham, and he's got big plans to put his own distinctive mark on the place with some surprisingly eco-friendly alterations. After him, Prince William will inherit the house that was first owned by his great-great-great grandfather some 160 years ago. Ultimately, we can be sure that the remarkable story of royal Sandringham is far from over.

In the heart of the Cotswolds is Gatcombe Park, Princess Anne's private residence. A sprawling 1,263-acre estate hidden away deep in the Gloucestershire countryside, this is the one place Princess Anne can truly be herself. She transformed this damp and run down manor house into a beloved nine-bedroom family home, making it a cherished sanctuary not just for herself but for her children Zara and Peter too. But although this estate's proved to be a happy home for humans and horses alike, only a privileged few have ever been invited to visit... Until now.

Bagshot Park is the Royal Family's most secretive royal residence, and the home of their most powerful secret weapons: Prince Edward and his wife Sophie. Since its humble beginnings as a royal hunting lodge, it has always been at the centre of royal life. It's witnessed some of the biggest royal blunders, become a much-loved place for the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh to raise their family, and - with 120 rooms of extraordinary interiors - wowed anyone lucky enough to step inside. This unbelievable property has protected royal family secrets for generations, until now. 

A look at the royal estate in Aberdeenshire, where King Charles proposed to Queen Camilla and which has been at the centre of some of the most explosive moments of royal history. From life-altering encounters to renovations that need to be seen to be believed, to the collapse of Charles and Diana's marriage, secrets have been locked behind these walls for nearly 200 years.