Ivy Cottage—all you need to know about Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's ex-London home

Princess Eugenie moved into Ivy Cottage, Kensington Palace, with her then-fiancé Jack Brooksbank back in 2018.

• Ivy Cottage was Jack and Eugenie's first home together.
• The cottage is located in Kensington Palace, just around the corner from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's home.
• In other royal news, Meghan Markle's dress is named dress of the year—but you'll be surprised by which one...

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank lived in Ivy Cottage for two and a half years but moved into Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's former UK home, Frogmore Cottage, when Eugenie was pregnant with her first child August in 2021. 

Frogmore Cottage is in Windsor and is only a 15-minute drive away from where Princess Eugenie grew up, Royal Lodge.

So what do we know about Eugenie and Jack's ex-London home, Ivy Cottage?

Where is Ivy Cottage?

Ivy Cottage is located within Kensington Palace, in Kensington, central London. It is one of many private homes in the grounds of the impressive London palace.

The cottage is just a stone's throw from Buckingham Palace, where the Queen regularly spends her time. It's also near to St. James's Palace, where Eugenie's sister Princess Beatrice lives.

Who lives at Ivy Cottage?

Right now it's unclear if anyone is living at Ivy Cottage.

Previously, Ivy Cottage was home to the deputy head of the palace's property department. When he retired from the post over three years ago, the cottage became vacant just as Eugenie and Jack got engaged.

Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank moved to the residence four months after the pair announced they were engaged, in early 2018. It marked the first time that the couple had lived together throughout their ten-year relationship.

Prior to moving into Ivy Cottage, Princess Eugenie lived with her sister Princess Beatrice at St. James's Palace, in a four-bedroom private apartment.

It has not been confirmed if anyone else from the Royal Family has moved into Ivy Cottage now that Princess Eugenie and Jack have moved out of London to start their family.

Who lives near Ivy Cottage?

Ivy Cottage is just a stone's throw from Nottingham Cottage, the first home of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle before they got married. However, now that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have moved to LA it is not known who has moved into 'Nott Cott' (as it is known) or whether the property is vacant.

When both couples did live next door to each other on the grounds of Kensington Palace, it was reported that Meghan and Eugenie became firm friends.

An insider told The Express how Harry, Meghan, Eugenie, and Jack are all brilliant friends. They said, "Eugenie loves Meghan to bits and believes she is perfect for Harry. They are thick as thieves and may even all go on holiday together soon".

Ivy Cottage is also located very close by to the London home of Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their three children. Kate and William live at Apartment 1A in Kensington Palace when they are not based at Anmer Hall in Norfolk. Apartment 1A is a four-story, 20-room home and is just a few seconds walk away from Ivy Cottage.

What is it like inside Ivy Cottage?

It’s thought that Ivy Cottage, despite being one of the smaller residences within the palace walls, is still a three-bedroom home.

It's been reported that Princess Eugenie and Jack extensively renovated their new home before moving in, in order to make it their own.

Plus, as Eugenie has an avid interest in art, it is thought that the Princess brightened the cottage up with lots of pops of colour and interesting pieces on the walls. 

In an interview with Harpers Bazaar magazine, Princess Eugenie revealed that Ivy Cottage was full of family photos and, given that she's director of an art gallery, lots of art on her walls too.

She told the publication, "My bedroom is full of photos my parents have taken. Mumsy took one of an elephant spraying water on its back, which is incredible, and there's one Papa took of Balmoral Castle. I've got a lot of art that needs to be put on the walls. And there are shoes everywhere."

Who owns Ivy Cottage?

Ivy Cottage is a grace-and-favor property, meaning that it isn't owned by whoever lives there. 

As it is within the grounds of Kensington Palace, Ivy Cottage falls under the ownership of the Crown Estate—meaning its ownership will pass between monarchs.

Now, Ivy Cottage is owned by the Queen under the Crown Estate, but one day it will be owned by Prince Charles.

Is Ivy Cottage open to the public?

Although visitors are welcome in certain areas of Kensington Palace throughout the year, you cannot visit specific private royal properties so Ivy Cottage is off-limits to visitors.