It is now four days since the passing of HRH Queen Elizabeth II. Today, a trip up to the Norwich Gates outside Sandringham House. This country house, in Norfolk, England, is a royal residence standing in a 20,000-acre (8,100 ha) estate. The estate has been the private home to five generations of sovereigns since 1862, when it was purchased for King Edward VII, and now having been inherited by King Charles III. Charles III’s grandfather, George VI, and great-grandfather, George V, both died here. Also located on the estate and just to the west of Sandringham House is Park House, birthplace and childhood home of Diana, Princess of Wales. Park House now operates as a hotel, fully adapted to accommodate guests with physical disabilities with or without their caregivers or companions. Sandringham House, however, is best known as the residence where HRH Queen Elizabeth II hosted Christmas each year for the Royal Family. Disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic prevented this from taking place in more recent times, and whether King Charles III decides to continue this tradition at Sandringham remains to be seen for what will probably be a more sombre occasion for the family this year.
Today, I went to pay my respects outside the grounds of the house. The local roads had diversions and police, the parking was organised with marshals directing the vehicles, buggy-type vehicles were available to assist the elderly and disabled get to/from the main entrance to the house (Norwich Gates), and the whole affair was very well organised – ever since the tragic news of the death of the Queen, crowds of people have turned up at the estate to lay flowers. This is, of course, on a smaller scale than at Buckingham Palace or Windsor, but nonetheless one of the main focal-points for royal well-wishers. Some more photos follow:
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