Queen Elizabeth’s Childhood Playhouse
Located in the garden of Windsor's Royal Lodge in Berkshire, England, there is a small thatched cottage with white-washed walls, hidden from public sight. Known as the Little House or Y Bwthyn Bach, this charming structure has served as a playhouse for the Queen and royal children for over 90 years
The playhouse was gifted to Princess Elizabeth and her sister Margaret in March 1932 by 'the people of Wales' for Elizabeth's sixth birthday. At that time, Elizabeth's parents were the Duke and Duchess of York, who were not in line for the throne. However, when Prince Albert's older brother gave up the throne, the Duke reluctantly accepted the crown as the King of England, determining the future of young Elizabeth.
Architect Edmund Willmott designed the house to be fully functional, featuring a kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom equipped with modern amenities for that era, such as hot and cold running water, electricity, and a heated towel rail.
However, everything was scaled down to two-thirds of the usual size. The living room contained couches, an oak dresser, a small radio, a miniature blue and gold china set, a bookcase filled with Beatrix Potter's books, as well as custom-made small curtains and blue carpets. The kitchen was equipped with a functional gas cooker, a compact fridge, and tiny pots and pans. Even the miniature telephone was operational. Additionally, the house boasted a front garden with scaled-down hedges and flower borders.
The little Princess Elizabeth and her sister spent hours cleaning and tidying their tiny home. Elizabeth, in particular, reportedly developed a reputation for being exceptionally neat. Later, her children and then her grandchildren enjoyed playing in the house too.
Some years ago, the house underwent a refurbishing under the guidance of one of Queen Elizabeth’s grandchildren, Princess Beatrice, the daughter of Prince Andrew, when he along with his family moved into the Royal Lodge in 2004.
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