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This was published 4 years ago

Her Majesty's royal residences: The key locations of the Queen's remarkable life

Karishma Sarkari
Karishma Sarkari

Queen Elizabeth lived to the age of 96, her life sadly coming to an end on September 8.

During her extraordinary life as Britain's longest-reigning monarch, Her Majesty called a number of palaces and castles home.

However, she was born in humble surroundings, welcomed by her parents – then known as the Duke and Duchess of York – at her maternal grandmother's home in Mayfair, at No.17 Bruton Street, London W1.

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Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth, Princess Margaret

Princess Elizabeth, pictured in 1936 with her sister Princess Margaret (right), largely grew up in Windsor. Getty

Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth, Princess Margaret

The sisters are seen here playing with their pet chameleon in the grounds of Windsor Castle in 1941. Getty

The family later lived in Windsor, with Princess Elizabeth and her younger sister Princess Margaret spending their years during WWII at Windsor Castle.

After Elizabeth wed Prince Philip in November 1947, the newlyweds moved to Malta for a few years as the Duke of Edinburgh focused on his naval career.

They called the island home from 1949-1951, living at Villa Guardamangia, just outside of the Maltese capital of Valetta.

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Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth pictured in Malta during their honeymoon in 1947.

Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth pictured in Malta during their honeymoon in 1947, where they later lived from 1949-1951 Getty

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However, duty called the young royal family back home to the UK when Princess Elizabeth's father King George VI died in February 1952.

Buckingham Palace quickly became Her Majesty's main residence following her coronation in 1953.

While the Queen was based in London, she typically headed to Windsor Castle, just outside of the UK capital, for Easter and weekends away.

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Members of the Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards and the 1st Battalion the Coldstream Guards take part in the Changing of the Guard, in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, London.

After she was coronated, the Queen's main residence was Buckingham Palace. Getty

Over the summer holidays each year, Her Majesty and much of the royal family would head to Balmoral in Scotland.

The sprawling estate, described as the Queen's 'happy place', ended up being the site of her final days.

Come Christmastime, they'd assemble at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where the Queen would stay until after the anniversary of her father's death on February 6, before returning back to London.

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Queen Elizabeth hosts the royal family and friends for summer at Balmoral Castle

The Queen spent her summers at the Balmoral Estate in Scotland. Getty

Prince Philip dies aged 99

The royal family would come together over Christmas at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where the Queen would stay until February AP

The Queen also stayed at Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh while in the city on official business.

During trips to Northern Ireland, the monarch stayed at Hillsborough Castle. However, Her Majesty didn't have an official residence in Wales.

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The Queen also stayed at Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland while there on official business Getty

For most of her reign, the Queen's official residence was Buckingham Palace.

However, at the start of the pandemic in March 2020, Her Majesty and Prince Philip both moved to Windsor Castle.

The residence became their permanent base as they isolated away from the capital.

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At the start of the pandemic in March 2020, Her Majesty and Prince Philip both moved to Windsor Castle, which became their permanent base as they isolated away from the capital. Steve Parsons/PA Wire

Prince Philip died at Windsor Castle in April 2021.

Her Majesty continued basing herself out of the residence, rather than returning to Buckingham Palace, even as COVID restrictions began to relax.

In 2022, she travelled to Balmoral Castle per tradition for her summer holiday. She died there on September 8, with King Charles and Princess Anne by her side.

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