The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have a large family home at Bagshot Park, where they have privately raised their two children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex.
While royal fans very rarely get to see inside their house, given that it is not open to public tours such as Sandringham House and Windsor Castle, they wwre previously offered an insight into their private life away from the spotlight. And like any household, it appears Sophie and Edward have their own unique home rules that not everyone will agree with.
Back in 2021, the couple were pictured inside their Grade II-listed, 120-room residence, which sits on 51 acres of land located in Windsor Great Park.
© Getty ImagesDivisive etiquette with dogs at home
While King Charles' brother Edward cuddled one of their pet dogs in his arms as he stood next to his smiling wife, their other dog stood on the sofa, determined to be part of the family photo.
In a second snap, the Duke perched on the sofa arm while both dogs stood on the seat next to him, proving this was not a one-off occurrence. This may disappoint some people, who maintain that dogs should not be allowed on soft furnishings such as beds and couches.
According to a previous nationwide survey of 2,000 families by furniture retailer DFS, 12 per cent of Brits agree that pet dogs should categorically be banned from climbing on sofas.
The relaxed attitude to their dogs at home shows how down-to-earth Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie are, despite their high-ranking royal status.
Royal dog rules differ
The Edinburghs aren't the only royals who like to be in close proximity to their pets. During a 2024 visit to Duchy College in Cornwall, Prince William revealed that their black Cocker Spaniel, Orla, sleeps in bed with him and his wife Princess Kate at night.
© Bettmann Archive via Getty ImagesPrince William met a local resident, Louise Harland, who was visiting with her dog, Jacks. Following her conversation with the Prince, Harland spoke to Hits Radio Cornwall, recalling the exact detail William shared about their sleeping arrangements: "[William] said that his little dog sleeps on the bed with them at night, with him and Kate."
The late Queen Elizabeth II had a strict no-dog rule in the bedroom, however, despite owning over 30 of them over the course of her life. While she let her Corgis climb on her sofa, they were banned from her boudoir, day or night.
Royal insiders revealed that Her Late Majesty kept her bed dog-free because her Corgis snored too loudly.
© David Hartley/ShutterstockInside Bagshot Park, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh's family home
The Tudor Gothic-style building has been the home to Edward and Sophie since 1999, when it was gifted to them by the late Queen Elizabeth II for their wedding. Estimated to be worth around £30 million should it be listed on the open market, it features a light and airy conservatory, an Indian-style Billiards room that took two whole years to decorate, a private lake and several stables.
Sophie previously opened up about how they loved being located close to family, particularly when Edward's late mother and father were staying at Windsor Castle.
In a past interview with Sky News, Duchess Sophie explained: "We're a lot more fortunate because we live so close to the Queen, so when she spends a lot of time at Windsor on the weekends, our children are more fortunate because they can go over and have tea with her on a regular basis."
