Why Princess Anne disliked her first marital home – and left after a few months


The Princess Royal lived there before moving to Buckingham Palace


princess anne house© Photo: Rex
Nichola Murphy
Nichola MurphyLifestyle Editor
June 15, 2022

Princess Anne and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence reside at Gatcombe Park, a sprawling estate in Gloucestershire, and The Princess Royal also has a London base at St James's Palace.

RELATED: Princess Anne's palatial home is surprisingly cosy – inside

In 1993, after getting married, the couple occupied a two-bedroom flat in Drake House on Dolphin Square in Westminster, London.

The Princess Royal described it as having "nosy neighbours" and "noisy traffic" so it's not surprising that they moved out a few months later, swapping their £1,300 per month flat for Buckingham Palace.

WATCH: Princess Anne unveils surprising decor inside home at Gatcombe Park

Photos released shortly before she moved in showed a look at the retro interiors. See inside...

Princess Anne's bedroom

A bedroom with a bed, two nightstands, and a window. No people present.© Photo: Rex

Princess Anne's bedroom featured high ceilings with cream carpets and walls. Anne and Timothy had a wooden bed frame, dressed with white linen, and two black bedside tables, with a single pink fringed lamp at one side.

A simple bedroom with a bed, desk, and window. No people present.© Photo: Rex

The second bedroom in the home featured a small wooden desk at the window, a matching towel rack and two chest of drawers.

Princess Anne's living room

Living room with green couch, coffee table, and various furniture; no people present.© Photo: Rex

The living room was decorated with the same cream carpets and walls as seen throughout the property. Large sash windows with black frames provided plenty of natural light, and furniture included a velvet green sofa with pink cushions, a wooden coffee table with a glass top, and a wooden rocking chair with patterned cushions.

PHOTOS: 16 jaw-dropping royal living rooms: Zara Tindall, Meghan Markle and more

Princess Anne's kitchen

A kitchen with white appliances, cabinets, and a washing machine. No people visible.© Photo: Rex

Anne's kitchen was fitted with white cupboards and appliances, grey worktops, and cream and black patterned tiles on the floor. A white sash window at the sink overlooked the gardens of the apartment block.

Princess Anne's dining room

A cozy living room with a fireplace, couch, and dining area with a patterned tablecloth.© Photo: Rex

The kitchen, dining and living room formed an open-plan space, with an island unit between the kitchen and dining area. A table for two was positioned in the middle, with a patterned tablecloth, and a view of the living space and a traditional fireplace beneath a painting mounted on the wall.

SEE: Princess Anne and Prince Charles' surprising childhood home unveiled

Princess Anne's road

Aerial view of a busy street with cars, a blue bus, and a gas station.© Photo: Rex

The apartment overlooked Princess Anne's road, as well as a tennis court on the opposite side of the road.

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