Take a look at Anmer Hall: Kate Middleton and Prince William’s country house in Norfolk

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge might live in London, at Kensington Palace, most of the time, but when they are their three children are after a countryside retreat, they head to Anmer Hall in Norfolk.

• Anmer Hall, on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, is the family's second, country home.
• The family has lived there since 2013, after Prince George was born.
• In other the royal news, Queen admits 'I can't move' in first appearance since Prince Andrew settlement.

While the royal couple and their brood, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, have their base at Kensington Palace, they also have a rather lavish country home to retreat to, when they need to get away from the city and the hectic nature of their royal engagements.

In fact, the Cambridge family even chose to self-isolate in their Norfolk home during the first UK lockdown.

A brief history of Anmer Hall

The Georgian home dates back to the 18th century and was thought to be the seat of the Coldham family originally.

It came into the hands of the royal family in the late 1800s, after the Sandringham estate was bought by Queen Victoria in 1862 as a present for Edward VII. Anmer Hall was not initially included within the estate, but later became a part of it.

Several people lived at Anmer during that time, but in 1972 the first members of the royal family took up residence there—the Duke and Duchess of Kent, the Duke being the Queen's cousin. They moved out in 1990 when the property was taken up by Hugh van Cutsem. The van Cutsem family are close friends of the royals—and Hugh was a friend of Prince Charles.

Who lives at Anmer Hall now?

It was in 2013 that the Queen allocated the plush Anmer Hall, now a part of the Sandringham Estate, as a belated wedding gift for Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

The couple were already living at Kensington Palace but were given Anmer for use when they want to spend some time outside of London, or when they were visiting the Queen and Prince Philip at the Sandringham Estate.

And it's so far proven brilliantly useful to them.

Soon after the birth of Prince George in 2013, the couple moved into the grand 18th-century building after an extensive redevelopment on the property.

The refurbishment is reported to have cost around £1.5 million, paid for from private Royal Family funds. Reportedly, Catherine was keen to put her own stamp on the place, and the Duke and Duchess ordered a new roof, new kitchen, a conservatory, and a complete redecoration of the rooms.

A huge range of trees was also planted around the perimeter of the property, to allow the famous family more privacy.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge lived full-time in the home from 2013 until 2017, in order to be close to William's job as a pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance Service. In September 2017, the couple moved back to London (Kensington Palace specifically) permanently, in order to allow Catherine and William to become full-time working royals, and ahead of Prince George beginning school.

They now live there with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, when they are not at their main home in London's Kensington Palace.

Often, the Cambridge family will retreat to Anmer during the school holidays. They also spent many months there when the UK went into the first lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Where is Anmer Hall?

Catherine and William's Anmer Hall home is handily situated just two miles from the Queen's Sandringham home.

The Cambridge family generally stays at their home during the Christmas period too, when the royals all gather in Norfolk.

The mansion is located in the tiny village of Anmer, which is within King's Lynn, a larger town. King's Lynn is a market town that has all of the amenities the Cambridge family might need, including restaurants, a patisserie, and a number of supermarkets.

What is it like inside Anmer Hall?

It's thought that Anmer has 10 bedrooms, and is set over three floors—one being their attic room.

During the coronavirus pandemic, we've seen many glimpses into the royal home, as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge conduct official duties via video calls in Norfolk.

The calls have given an exciting look into their home including a message from Catherine, standing near a window in Anmer, surrounded by lush greenery.

The couple normally takes video calls inside just one room, so it was a different setting to the one royal fans have been used to.

Normally, the couple appears to be in some sort of dining room or office room, sitting with a laptop or computer on the table in front of them. The videos show the neutral decor of Anmer Hall, with sleek white doors and stylish green/grey walls.

According to reports, the royal couple has brought the property bang up to date since moving in, with the help of modern designer Ben Pentreath. Ben, a friend of Prince Charles, is said to favour bold colours and up-to-the-minute accessories, so it's likely the Duke and Duchess' country home is as stylish as it is comfy.

Ben reportedly encouraged Catherine to get out of her comfort zone with the home re-design, and it's now said that the abode is decorated in bright colours, with modern furnishings.

However, there are some rooms that have been left classic and traditional, including Prince George's former nursery, which now likely belongs to Prince Louis, who is three.

What are the Anmer Hall grounds like?

Anmer Hall is situated within acres and acres of land.

The family regularly enjoys spending time in the private gardens on the estate and have often photographed their children, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte, playing there for official portraits.

In fact, a source has claimed that the family are loving the freedom of their extensive gardens whilst spending more time at home this year. 

Speaking to The Sun, they said, "George, Charlotte and Louis are now relishing their freedom in the spacious gardens of Anmer Hall. Climbing frames, a climbing wall and swings are a big part of the Cambridge outdoors activity scene, and Kate will do pond dipping and note-taking to log what they have spotted."

Kate and William have also shared an adorable video of their three kids clapping for the NHS on their social media pages, showing a glimpse of the pretty gardens.

The outside space also provides a great play area for the family's beloved dog, Lupo, a cocker spaniel they brought into the family home soon after Prince George was born.

Reportedly, Kate and William also have various members of staff at the home including their much-trusted nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo. The Spanish nanny began working for the family in 2013 and has been with them ever since. She's regularly pictured looking after both George and Charlotte, and follows the family from their Anmer Hall home to their Kensington Palace home, whenever they may need her.

What is the area around Anmer Hall like—how do Kate and William spend their time there?

The royal family couldn't have picked a better place for some privacy. The hall is of course located in the small village of Anmer, which is so rural, it doesn't even have a pub.

Reportedly, the couple are left largely to themselves, and Catherine often pops into the local shops—including her favourite Waitrose—unbothered, as the local residents are so used to seeing her walking around. Prince William also regularly cycles around the country lanes, while the pair pop to the local villages for pub lunches.

The area is also just 12 miles from the market town of King's Lynn, so if the couple ever need anything, they're just a short car ride from whatever they might require.

The Duke and Duchess' close friends, William Van Cutsem and his wife Rosie also live close by—and it's said the family regularly have dinner parties with their pals at their home.

Is Anmer Hall open to the public?

No. Given that Anmer is a private family home for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, it is not open to visitors.