Royal residences aren't short of amazing, luxury and lavish features like tennis courts, swimming pools, helipads and panic rooms. But did you know that King Charles' Sandringham House property in Norfolk was once home to its very own bowling alley? An unearthed photograph from 1910 shows the space in all its glory…
The black-and-white grainy photo that is over 100 years old reveals that the corridor-like room featured two alleys, with a wall of windows to one side. The pins could be seen perfectly standing in position and a chair had been positioned at the end of the alley, handy for waiting players.
© Print Collector/Getty Images
© Universal Images Group via GettyA bowling alley no more
A sketch completed around the same time shows King Edward VII and company enjoying a spot of bowling. It has been reported that he was the royal to have the feature installed, after feeling inspired by the American-style alley he saw at Trentham Hall. It was then transformed into a library, now known as the 'Long Library', as the room still retains its elongated shape.
In 1957, Queen Elizabeth II used this room as the backdrop for the first every television broadcast of the Christmas Day speech. Her Majesty sat at a grand desk and behind her, a cabinet is in view, showcasing books as well as several family photographs. In early 2020, an informal royal summit was held in this very same room, when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle raised their issues regarding their roles within the royal family.
© Photo: Getty ImagesVisiting Sandringham
The Long Library is one of nine ground-floor rooms open to the public at certain times each year. In 2026, the property will be open from 28 March to 9 October. As well as spaces inside the house like the iconic saloon, guests will be able to admire the stunning gardens. With a 4.6/5 Google score from over 10,000 reviews, the royal residence is a hit with the public and positive comments include: "The staff are very polite & knowledgeable" and: "Excellent place to visit with stunning grounds and architecture. Lovely walks and scenery and the building was very beautiful."
© Getty"Excellent place to visit with stunning grounds and architecture"
Eco overhaul at Sandringham
King Charles has implemented a variety of conservation and sustainability measures at Sandringham Estate, including adding a biomass boiler and solar farm. Another key initiative was removing single-use plastics from the café. The monarch also has six new ponds added on site to support the local ecosystem. "Once created, the waterbodies will provide a valuable water source for grazing animals as well as creating opportunities for a myriad of local wildlife including birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates within the farmed landscape," part of the planning application read.
