Many family homes up and down the country have Wendy houses in the garden, for children to role play and enjoy, but there's one very impressive one in Windsor which belongs to royalty. In 1932, when Queen Elizabeth II was just six years old, she was gifted a playhouse from the people of Wales, and it's the most incredible creation.
Inside the structure it had a kitchen, living room, a bedroom and a bathroom and it even featured hot and cold running water, electricity and a heated towel rail. For entertainment, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were treated to a bookshelf complete with the works of Beatrix Potter, a mini radio and a tea set to play tea parties with.
Designed by architect Edmund Willmott and titled 'The Little House', it measured at 24-feet long and five-feet high, and photos show construction workers perfecting the tiny cottage with a thatched roof.
© Photo: Getty ImagesSeveral archive photos show the young Queen and her little sister, Margaret, enjoying their time playing in the house. In one photo, the pair are stood holding hands and smiling outside of the little cottage, while another snap shows the two girls playing with their pet dogs, with the Queen leaning out of the window to speak to her sister. A later photo also shows the two royals visiting their childhood haunt as adults.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe house gets damaged
After it was inspected by the Queen Mother and King George VI, but before it was presented to Elizabeth for her birthday, it was damaged in a fire in transit. However, the damage was soon repaired and it was reconstructed at Windsor Great Park just in time for the little Princess's birthday celebrations.
© Photo: Getty ImagesAlthough a lot is said about members of the royal family not being able to keep gifts received from well-wishers, the Queen was able to use the Wendy House as it was an official gift that came from the people of Wales and as such, doesn't belong to the Royal Collection Trust, but to her.
It was then passed down through the generations. Indeed, her granddaughter, Princess Beatrice, helped to restore the house in 2012, and spoke about growing up playing in it.
© Photo: Getty ImagesChatting to Andrew Marr on the documentary The Diamond Queen, she said: "Granny and her sister played here growing up and we've been lucky enough to play here and cousins and second cousins and it's a big family treat. It's the most glamorous Wendy House ever but it's really beautiful and what you're seeing now is after a year's renovation process."
She also revealed that the monarch still enjoyed visiting the cottage in later years, explaining: "She still likes to come back and visit... Granny was very clear that for all the fabric she wanted very little designs. It's such a little house that she wanted little flowers and patterns. It's beautiful. I've been lucky enough to play here and now Granny's a great-granny, so now [the great-grandchildren] can enjoy it too." Speaking about renovations, the Princess explained: "It's been completely re-thatched, new curtains, new wiring, a bit of a spruce up really! All the little china and glass was created especially for the house."
© Photo: Getty ImagesWhat has happened to the Wendy house now?
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor departed Royal Lodge in 2026, and the fate of the Wendy house within the grounds remains unknown.
Considering the age and potential fragile nature of the structure, it may have to stay put, meaning whoever takes over Royal Lodge in future will benefit from it.
