Queen Elizabeth’s Life-Sized Wendy House Gift to Great-Grandchildren

Late Queen Elizabeth had left a clear message for the Prince and Princess of Wales' only daughter, Princess Charlotte, and her other great-grandchildren regarding how she would like a present received to herself to be passed down.

The extended royal family might take a low-key approach to Christmas gifts, but when it comes to birthdays, the Queen once got one of the most unique presents of all.

Ninety years ago, the late monarch was given a life-sized Wendy house by the people of Wales for her sixth birthday.

It is believed that protocol dictates royals cannot accept gifts from the public for security reasons.

However, an exception is understood to have been made for the playhouse as it was given as a personal gift to the Queen and not to the Royal Collection Trust.

Since then, many generations of royals have played there, and the generous gift could potentially be said to be enjoyed even more by the Queen's great-grandchildren in the future.

While Her Majesty's Playhouse is intended for children to play in and is not an operational royal residence like Buckingham Palace, it does have running water and electricity and a fully functioning bathroom and kitchen.

It even has a comfortable living room and bedroom, giving it a cosy feel and making it truly like a home away from home.

The playhouse was designed by Edmund Wilmot and can still be found at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, where she and her sister Princess Margaret had been living when she received the gift.

Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York's eldest daughter, Princess Beatrice, also played in the Wendy House, having grown up in Royal Lodge.

She previously spoke about her grandmother's wish for the gift when handed down to the younger Windsor generation.

Speaking in the 2012 documentary, The Diamond Queen, Beatrice discussed the monarch's plans to redesign the cottage.

The princess told Andrew Marr at the time, “Granny and her sister played here growing up, and we've been lucky enough to play here with cousins and second cousins, and it's a big family treat.”

Beatrice described the cottage as the most glamorous Wendy House ever, revealing the Queen's very clear message on the new look she would like for the playhouse.

The royal said the house had been completely re-thatched and has new curtains and new wiring.

Beatrice added, “a bit of a spruce up really.

All the little china and glass was created especially for the house.”

The granddaughter of the Queen spoke further about the monarch as she said, “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.”

In August, the then Cambridge family confirmed their Windsor move following months of speculation.

Before that, the family split their time between Kensington Palace and their countryside home in Norfolk, Anmer Hall.

With their move to Windsor, Princess Charlotte and her brothers are living closer than ever to the late great-grandmother's generous childhood gift.

The close proximity at least gives them the chance to enjoy the magnificent playhouse more while settling into their new home.

Prince George, Charlotte, and Louis might have played in the Queen's playhouse before during any Windsor visits.

With the Royal Lodge also on the Windsor estate, it could be much easier to spend time there going forward.