The Queen's priceless reaction to Prince William and Kate's new kitchen at Anmer Hall

Prince William and Kate's new kitchen at their Norfolk country home failed to impress the Queen

Queen's priceless reaction to William and Kate's new kitchen
(Image credit: Future: Getty / Canva)

Prince William and Kate's new kitchen at Anmer Hall sparked an interesting reaction from Her Majesty who was unimpressed by the newly refurbished look.


When the Cambridge family aren't spending time at Kensington Palace, they can often be found at their country home in Norfolk, Anmer Hall. This is just a stone's throw from the Queen's own Norfolk home, Sandringham House and Her Majesty have often been invited to their home for lunch or dinner.

A royal correspondent revealed that during one trip to the Cambridge's residence, Her Majesty looked at the new kitchen they had fitted. "I remember when they had just finished renovating Anmer Hall, and they invited the Queen over for lunch," Sally Bedell Smith, author of Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch, told People

Sally explained that the royal couple installed a modern kitchen with large seating areas and communal family spaces, which baffled the Queen who had a hilarious response. "They have one of those big kitchens with eating areas, and she [the Queen] said, 'I can't understand why everybody spends their time in the kitchen,'" revealed the royal expert.

Anmer Hall

Anmer Hall

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Of course, there is a slightly different kitchen and dining setup at Buckingham Palace and the Queen's other properties. The Queen has professional chefs who work for her year-round and cook her every meal of the day. The Queen would typically dine in a dining room or another banquet hall and wouldn't be seen eating her meals in a kitchen.

This means that a modern kitchen that includes a breakfast table in an open plan space and possibly even a kitchen island, would be quite a confusing layout for the Her Majesty. 

For the Cambridges however, this type of family kitchen would work perfectly for them. One of Kate Middleton's hobbies is cooking and this is something that she loves to share with her children. The royal couple has shown off their children's impressive baked goods in the past and even revealed that their children baked and decorated a cake for Catherine on Mother's Day.

This style of kitchen in their country home suggests that the Cambridges are aiming to have a less formal and more family-focused style of life than the generations of royals before them. 

Laura Harman

Laura is the Entertainment Editor for woman&home who primarily covers television, film, and celebrity news. Laura loves drinking and eating and can often be found trying to get reservations at London's trendiest restaurants. When she's not wining and dining, Laura can also be found travelling, baking, and hiking with her dog.