The Princess Royal is recovering from “minor injuries and concussion” at her family home in Gloucestershire after spending a week in Southmead Hospital in Bristol.
The 73-year-old royal receives the best care thanks to the dedicated staff who live at Gatcombe Park, a 730-acre estate, including a team of personal chefs who prepare home-cooked meals to order. While we know what Princess Anne's living room looks like (it's surprisingly modest), we've never seen any photos of her kitchen before.
An article published in The Lady magazine gave a rare insight into the Princess Royal's private life at Gatcombe, where dogs and horses take precedence and housekeepers run a strict household.
Princess Anne's Kitchen
The “unconventional” kitchen “combines a Downton Abbey vibe with a country farmhouse feel, with a touch of royal canine flair.”
The article emphasizes that her dogs “rule” the room, eating and resting there in a “large, simple room that wouldn't look out of place in a period drama.”
Unusually, there are no “modern machines” or “shiny surfaces” here, no common household appliances like a microwave, and no industrial worktops of the kind you'd expect to find in a royal kitchen.
Ann seems to prefer the Aga, which is the centrepiece of any home, acting as both a cooker and a heat storage stove.
Perfect for making slow-cooked casseroles and roasted meats, this old-fashioned stove is perfect for cooking dishes featuring game, one of the princess's favourite meats.
A separate “refrigerated compartment” has been set up to store all of the Princess Royal's favourite foods – stinky cheese, tinned pies and chocolate ice cream – all of which are notoriously fussy and easy to handle.
The article continues: “Dangling from the cold interior walls of the refrigerator are endless quantities of rich cheeses, pates and cooked hams, and, of course, pheasants, when in season.”
Gatcombe Park – Princess Royal's private estate
The Grade II listed building is located between the villages of Minchinhampton and Avening in Gloucestershire.
Princess Anne has lived in the stunning mansion since her late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, purchased it as a wedding present to her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, in 1976.
Gatcombe operates as a working farm, rearing livestock including cattle and breeding horses, and also hosts equestrian events throughout the year, including the Gatcombe International Equestrian Championships.
Also living in the house are Anne's daughter Zara Tindall and her husband Mike, and their children Mia, Lena and Lucas Tindall, as well as her son Peter Phillips and his children Savannah and Isla Phillips with his ex-wife Autumn.
clock: Princess Anne tried a stomach-wrenching diet of tinned pie and smoked fish – see what happened
When Princess Anne travels to London for work, she lives in a private residence within the royal family home and spends part of her time at St. James's Palace.
