Category Archives: Royal Residences

The Grand Ducal Palace, Luxembourg

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2015

source: Wikipedia

The Grand Ducal Palace, Luxembourg

The Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg City is the official palace of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and is used for official and ceremonial functions. Owned by the State, it is one of two palaces placed at the disposal of the Grand Duke, in accordance with the Constitution of Luxembourg. The other is Berg Castle, where the Grand Ducal Family actually resides.

The Town Hall in 1834. source: Wikipedia

The palace began as a town hall, with the earliest mention in 1418 in official documents. In 1554, the building was destroyed in an explosion when lightning had struck the nearby church and set off an explosion of gunpowder which was stored there. Much of the city was destroyed. The left wing, which still exists, was rebuilt in 1573. The town hall again suffered significant damage during the siege of Luxembourg in 1683-1684. It would be over 40 years before the city had the finances to rebuild in 1728. Expansion took place in the 1740s, which included removing the stone balustrade on the balcony and replacing it with the wrought iron which still exists today, and the building of the right wing, known as “La Balance”. The building became the home of the French central administration in 1795, and then the Prefecture of the Forestry Department in 1800.

It was 1815 when the old town hall became the seat of government and a Royal Palace, during the personal union with the Kings of the Netherlands. It was used as a residence of the Governor, Prince Willem Frederik Hendrik of the Netherlands. Several neighboring houses were purchased to allow for the expansion of the palace, which included the construction of the Chamber of Deputies on the right side of the palace in 1859.

The interior was renovated in 1883 in preparation for a visit by King Willem III and Queen Emma of the Netherlands (who were also Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg). Following the end of the personal union with the Netherlands in 1890, Adolphe, Duke of Nassau became the Grand Duke of Luxembourg and took up residence at the Grand Ducal Palace. He undertook a complete transformation of the palace, building a new wing to contain guest accommodations and private apartments for his family.

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During the German occupation during World War II, the palace was used by the Nazis as a concert hall and tavern. By the end of the war, the building had suffered significant damage and most of the furniture and art collection had been destroyed. It was on April 14, 1945, that Grand Duchess Charlotte returned from exile, and greeted the people of Luxembourg from the balcony. (The above photo shows Grand Duchess Charlotte and most of her family following their return to Luxembourg.) The palace once again became the seat of the Grand Ducal Court but has not been used as a regular residence since. Over the years, the palace has undergone several renovations, including an extensive restoration in the 1990s to both the interior and exterior of the buildings.

The Balcony. photo © Susan Flantzer

Today, the palace contains the offices of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, the Hereditary Grand Duke and Hereditary Grand Duchess, and the Grand Ducal Court. The State Rooms are used for meetings and audiences, and the palace is the site of official and State visits from foreign Heads of State. For several months in the summer, the palace is open to the public.

The ground floor of the palace includes the formal entrance hall, the Armor Room, and the Grand Staircase.

The Grand Hall. source: Le Quotidien

The first floor includes the Grand Hall, which is the site of many official functions, and the room from which the Grand Ducal Family appears on the palace balcony. This is where the Grand Duke welcomes ambassadors and swears in his ministers, and where formal photographs are taken with visiting Heads of State. The Grand Hall was the site of the abdication ceremonies for Grand Duchess Charlotte in 1964, and Grand Duke Jean in 2000.

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Adjoining the Grand Hall is the Yellow Room. This room has often been used for the Grand Duke’s Christmas message, as well as smaller audiences with guests. Other rooms on the first floor are the Hall of Kings, the Chart Room, and the formal Dining Room. In a separate wing (not open to the public) are the former private living quarters of the Grand Ducal family.

Learn more about the other Luxembourg Royal Residences here!

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The Royal Palace of Amsterdam

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2015

photo © Susan Flantzer

The Royal Palace of Amsterdam

The Royal Palace of Amsterdam is one of the primary palaces of the Dutch monarchy. Owned by the Dutch State, it is one of three palaces placed at the disposal of the Sovereign (along with Noordeinde Palace and Huis ten Bosch). Located in central Amsterdam, the palace sits on Dam Square next to the Nieuwe Kerk.

While once a royal residence, today it is used by the Dutch Royal Family for official functions, such as the annual New Year receptions and award presentations, and is the site of the formal welcoming ceremony during State Visits from foreign Heads-of-State. It is also used during the abdications and accessions of the Dutch sovereigns and has been the site of many balcony appearances by the Royal Family. It also houses guest apartments for visiting Heads of State. When not in use by the Royal Family, the palace is open to the public and is the site of several exhibitions each year.

The old town hall, from a painting by Jan van Kessel. source: Wikipedia

Originally the Town Hall, the building was turned into a Royal Palace by Louis Napoleon who became King of Holland in 1808. Following his abdication, and Hollands’ annexation by France, it was used as a residence for the French Governor. In 1813, Willem Frederik of Orange (son of the last Stadholder Willem V) returned and declared himself Sovereign Prince of the Netherlands, and eventually became King Willem I of the Netherlands. He returned the palace to the city but continued to use it for official functions, including the first State Visit in 1814, by Tsar Alexander I of Russia.

While King Willem I used the palace extensively, his two successors – Willem II and Willem III – used it just a few days each year during their reigns. Sitting empty for so long caused much criticism from the Dutch people and the government, which resulted in disagreements as to the actual ownership of the palace. It was eventually determined that the palace was legally owned by the City of Amsterdam. At the end of 1935, it was resolved to sell the building to the Dutch State, and designate that it be permanently at the disposal of the Sovereign. Queen Wilhelmina inaugurated the palace and used it as her winter residence in the last years of her reign.

Queen Juliana and Queen Beatrix used the Royal Palace primarily for official functions while living elsewhere (Soestdjik Palace and Huis ten Bosch, respectively). And King Willem-Alexander continues this tradition.

Queen Beatrix arriving at the abdication signing ceremony in the Moseszaal. source: Daily Mail

Queen Beatrix arriving at the abdication signing ceremony in the Moses Hall. source: Daily Mail

The Council Chamber, also known as the Moses Hall (Moseszaal), originally served as the meeting room of the city council when the palace was still the Town Hall. It was later used as a concert hall, and for the Council of State. It takes its name from several of the paintings depicting Moses which adorn the room. In 2013, the Moseszaal was the site of the abdication ceremony of Queen Beatrix, just as it was for Queen Juliana in 1980.

The Council Hall. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Citizens Hall. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Citizens Hall is the grand hall in the center of the palace. At 120 feet in length, 60 feet in width and 90 feet in height, it is the largest and grandest room in the palace. The marble floor features maps of the eastern and western hemispheres of the globe (seen in the above photo with low metal railings around them), detailing Amsterdam’s colonial influence. The current hemispheres were made in the mid-1700s, replacing earlier maps from the 1650s. The Citizen’s Hall is often the site of palace exhibits and was the site of a reception following the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander in 2013.

Looking out onto the Balcony. photo © Susan Flantzer

Looking out onto the Balcony, overlooking Dam Square. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Balcony dates from 1808 when it was installed as part of the changes made to the palace by Louis Napoleon. It was later reduced to its current size and design. The former railings were removed and replaced with medallions featuring the gold lion of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Overlooking Dam Square, the balcony is used by the Royal Family following significant events, such as royal weddings and the accession of a new sovereign.

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Learn more about the other Dutch Royal Residences here!

Huis ten Bosch

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2015

source: Wikipedia/Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed (National Cultural Heritage)

Huis ten Bosch

Huis ten Bosch, in The Hague, is one of the state-owned palaces placed at the disposal of the Dutch sovereign. Having served as a summer residence for much of its royal history, it became the primary residence of the sovereign during the reign of Queen Beatrix. A year after her abdication, she left Huis ten Bosch and now resides at Drakensteyn Castle, the home she has privately owned since 1959. In January 2019, after a period of extensive renovations, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima and their family formally took up residence at Huis ten Bosch.

Huis ten Bosch was built in 1645 to be a summer residence for the Stadholder Prince Frederik Hendrik of Orange and his wife, Amalia, Countess of Solms-Braunfels. The first stone was laid on September 2, 1645 by Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia (born Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of King James VI/I of Scotland and England, and Princess Anne of Denmark). Following Frederik Hendrik’s death, his widow turned the palace into a mausoleum in his memory. The large central domed room – The Orange Hall – was decorated with artwork dedicated to the life and work of the Prince. Following Amalia’s death, the palace passed her daughters and was later sold to Prince William III, a grandson of Frederik Hendrik (and later King of England). He continued to use Huis ten Bosch as a summer palace and made many changes to the building as well as the gardens.

Following Willem III’s death in 1702, the palace became the property of King Friedrich I of Prussia but returned to the House of Orange-Nassau in 1732. Prince Willem IV made major renovations, extending the building by adding two large wings to the east and the west – the Hague Wing and the Wassenaar Wing.

After the French invasion in 1795, all the properties of the Stadholder were seized, becoming the property of the state – and much of the furniture and art from Huis ten Bosch was sold. Over the next 20 years, the palace was used for many different things – it served briefly as a prison following a coup in 1798, the east wing was rented out as a brothel, and it later housed the National Art Gallery, the predecessor of today’s Rijksmuseum. Louis Napoleon lived there briefly after being proclaimed King of Holland and is credited with much of the style with exists today.

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From 1815, with the proclamation of King Willem I of the Netherlands, the palace began to be used regularly as a summer residence of the Dutch royal family. Queen Wilhelmina used it during World War I (giving up her usual summer residence at Het Loo Palace), and again prior to fleeing the German invasion in 1940. The palace suffered significant damage during World War II and following the liberation, it was totally uninhabitable. Over the next 30 years, the palace underwent several significant restorations and was used sporadically for royal functions. It was not until August 10, 1981, that it returned to use as a royal residence when Queen Beatrix and her family moved in.

Today, just as during the reign of Queen Beatrix, Huis ten Bosch also serves as the site of many official functions. In 2014, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima hosted a large group of world leaders for The Nuclear Security Summit, which included an official dinner held in the Orange Hall (pictured below). The Orange Hall underwent a complete restoration in the late 1990s and continues to serve as the backdrop for many ceremonies and functions. Additionally, the Hague Wing of the palace is used as guest accommodations.

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Learn more about the other Dutch Royal Residences here!

Villa Eikenhorst

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Villa Eikenhorst

Located on the De Horsten estate in Wassenaar, about 10km from The Hague, Villa Eikenhorst served as the official residence of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands and their three daughters from 2003 until January 2019, when the family moved to Huis ten Bosch in The Hague.

The house was originally built between 1985-1987 for Princess Christina (the youngest daughter of Queen Juliana) and her husband, Jorge Guillermo. The couple lived there with their children until divorcing in 1996. After sitting empty for some time, the property was renovated and became the residence of the then-Prince of Orange in 2003. While primarily a private residence, The King and Queen occasionally host foreign visitors there as well as other official events.

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The De Horsten Estate comprises over 400 acres and is privately owned by the Royal Family. Its origins go back to 1838 and 1845 when Prince Frederik (a son of King Willem I) purchased three neighboring estates – Raephorst, Ter Horst, and Eikenhorst – to establish his own private hunting grounds. At his death, the property was inherited by his daughter Marie, Princess of Wied. In the early 1900s, she sold the property to Queen Wilhelmina, and it has since passed by inheritance to Queen Juliana and then to Queen Beatrix who is the current owner. Beatrix’s sister, Princess Margriet, holds the leasehold and building rights on the area which was originally the Raephorst estate.

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Learn more about the other Dutch Royal Residences here!

Noordeinde Palace

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2015

source: Wikipedia

Noordeinde Palace

Noordeinde Palace is the working palace of the Dutch monarchy and the site of the King’s offices. Owned by the State, it is one of three palaces placed at the Sovereign’s disposal (along with the Royal Palace of Amsterdam and Huis ten Bosch). The palace is used for official and state functions, as well as housing the offices of the Royal Court.

The palace began as a farmhouse which was converted into a residence in 1533. In 1591 it was leased (and later purchased) by the States of Holland for the widow and son of Willem the Silent, in recognition of his service to the nation. The son, Frederik Hendrik, enlarged the house significantly, naming it Oude Hof, and purchased much of the surrounding land. Following his death in 1647, and his wife’s death in 1675, the house sat empty for many years and eventually passed to his grandson, King Friedrich I of Prussia.

In 1754, King Friedrich II of Prussia (Frederick the Great) sold the palace to Stadholder Willem V, and his son, who would later become King Willem I of the Netherlands, took up residence in 1792. However, three years later, he was forced to flee during the French Revolutionary Wars, and the palace became the property of the State, which it remains today.

In 1813, Willem I returned to the Netherlands. As the constitution required that a summer and winter palace be provided for the sovereign, extensive renovations were made to the Oude Hof which then became the winter residence of King Willem I in 1817. Subsequent sovereigns used the palace sporadically – Willem II didn’t use it at all, while Willem III used it as his winter residence. It was Willem III who had the Royal Stables built in the palace gardens, and it was the birthplace of the future Queen Wilhelmina in 1890.

The Royal Archives. source: Wikipedia, Photo by Pauline van Till

Queen Emma, while serving as Regent, had the Royal Archives building built within the gardens. In 1901, the newly married Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Hendrik made Noordeinde their home and continued to use it until the German invasion in 1940. Following her return to the Netherlands after the war, she continued to use the palace occasionally but spent most of her time living at Het Loo Palace.

Just before Wilhelmina’s abdication in 1948, the central part of the palace was damaged by fire. Months later, when Queen Juliana ascended to the throne, she chose to keep her residence at Soestdijk Palace which had been her home since marrying in 1936. Instead, Noordeinde was used to house offices for the royal household.

From 1952 until 1976, the north wing of the palace housed the International Institute of Social Studies. In 1969, it was announced the future Queen Beatrix would, upon her accession, use Noordeinde as her offices and after the Institute relocated in 1976, the palace underwent seven years of extensive renovations.

Queen Beatrix hosting a State Dinner for King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan. source: Dutch Royal House

In 1984, the palace was reopened as the working palace of the monarchy, housing Queen Beatrix’s offices as well as the Royal Court. It also became the site of many official and State functions, including many State dinners for visiting Heads-of-State.

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King Willem-Alexander has continued the tradition, maintaining his offices at Noordeinde while living elsewhere. It is at Noordeinde where the King meets with foreign ambassadors as well as holds many official and State functions.

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Each year, on Prinsjesdag (Prince’s Day, also known as Budget Day), the Sovereign travels by coach from Noordeinde Palace to open the Dutch Parliament and give the speech from the throne. Following their return to the palace, the Sovereign and members of the Royal House appear on the balcony overlooking the palace square to greet the crowds below.

Learn more about the other Dutch Royal Residences here!

The Royal Palace of Madrid

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2015

source: Wikipedia, Photo by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra

The Royal Palace of Madrid

The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official home of the Spanish Monarchy. It is used for State and ceremonial functions but has not been used as a royal residence since the reign of King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenie. With nearly 1.5 million square feet and over 3,400 rooms, The Royal Palace of Madrid is the largest palace in Europe.

When the Spanish monarchy was restored in 1975, the new King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia chose to remain at Zarzuela Palace, where they had lived since marrying in 1962. And upon Juan Carlos’ abdication in 2014, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia also chose to remain at their home, which is located just next to Zarzuela Palace. The Royal Palace of Madrid continues to be used for formal events such as State Dinners and was the site of the wedding banquet for the current King Felipe and Queen Letizia in 2004. It is open to the public for the majority of the year.

The Alcazar of Madrid, from a 17th-century painting. source: Wikipedia

The palace was built on the site of the former Alcazar of Madrid – a medieval fortress which had been transformed into a lavish palace by Kings Juan I, Carlos V and Felipe II who made it the official residence of the sovereign in 1561. The Alcazar was destroyed by fire on Christmas Eve 1734, and King Felipe V decided to build a new Royal Palace. Construction began in 1738 and the building was completed in 1751, but it wouldn’t be occupied until 1764 when King Carlos III installed his court there. Despite this, the early monarchs spent only a few weeks there each year. Over time, it became the primary residence of the Sovereign, until the overthrow of the Spanish monarchy.

The palace is designed as a square, built around an inner courtyard. The principal state rooms are located on the southern and western wings.

The Southern wing overlooks the Armory Square and is the main entrance to the palace. It contains the Grand Staircase, the Hall of Columns, and the Throne Room. These rooms were once part of the apartments of King Carlos III.

The Grand Staircase. source: Wikipedia

The abdication ceremony of King Juan Carlos in the Hall of Columns. source: Daily Mail/EPA

The Hall of Columns was initially part of the apartments of King Carlos III. It is one of the most used rooms in the palace, where the King often meets foreign ambassadors and the diplomatic corps as well as other official events. In 2014, it was the site of the abdication ceremony of King Juan Carlos I.

The Throne Room. source: Wikipedia

The Throne Room is today used primarily in conjunction with State Visits. It is here that the King and Queen are photographed with their guests prior to a State Dinner. They also greet members of the government and other invited guests prior to the formal dinner in the Banqueting Hall.

The Western wing, overlooking the Campo del Moro Gardens, contains the Carlos III Room, the Porcelain Room, the Yellow Room, the Gala Dining Room, and the Music Room.

The Porcelain Room. source: Wikipedia, Photo by Osvaldo Gago

The Porcelain Room features porcelain covering the walls and ceiling, as well as numerous porcelain objects on display. It was designed and built in the 1760s.

The Gala Dining Room. source: Wikipedia, Photo by Jose Luis Filpo Cabana

The Gala Dining Room was once part of the apartments of the Queen, during the time of King Carlos III. It was King Alfonso XII who turned the room into the Gala Dining Room which is still used today for large formal events, such as State Dinners.

The Northern wing, overlooking the Sabatini Gardens, includes the Royal Chapel and several of the former royal apartments. On the ground floor of the Northwest corner of the palace is the Royal Library.

The Royal Chapel. source: Wikipedia, Photo by Eric Chan

Once the main Chapel of the royal family, the Royal Chapel is today only used occasionally, most notably for funerals. The funerals of both the Count and Countess of Barcelona (parents of King Juan Carlos) were held here in 1993 and 2000 respectively.

The Royal Library. source: Wikipedia, Photo by Fabio Alessandro Locati

The Royal Library, which spans two floors, was begun during the reign of King Felipe V, who joined his personal collection with that of the former Alcazar. Subsequent sovereigns added to the collection, and it was King Alfonso XII who began the task of counting and cataloging everything in the collection. Today, the library contains over 300,000 books, 4,700 manuscripts, 4,100 musical works, 7,000 maps, 200 engravings and drawings, and 2,000 coins and medals.

The Eastern Wing overlooks the Plaza de Oriente and housed the private apartments of the sovereigns from the time of King Carlos IV. These rooms include the small Dining Room, the Billiards Room, the Room of Mirrors, and the Tapestry Room. Many of these rooms are used regularly for royal audiences.

The Billiards Room. source: Wikipedia, Photo by Jose Luis Filpo Cabana

To the south are two wings which extend out, forming another courtyard known as Armory Square. The eastern wing contains the Royal Pharmacy and the apartments of Queen Maria Christina. Among these rooms is the Crown Room which was created in 2014.

The Royal Pharmacy. photo by Duimdog at nl.wikipedia

Since the reign of King Felipe II, the Spanish royal family has maintained a Royal Pharmacy, to provide them with any necessary medications. The Royal Pharmacy in the Royal Palace of Madrid – set up as a museum since 1964 – displays many of the old bottles and containers used to house various drugs and treatments, as well as the adjoining distillation rooms.

The Crown Room. source: Patrimonio Nacional

Formerly one of the rooms in the apartments of Queen Maria Christina, the Crown Room was established following the accession of King Felipe VI in 2014 to display the symbols of the constitutional monarchy – the original throne of King Carlos III as well as his crown and scepter; the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece belonging to Queen Isabella II, and the Table of Sphinxes – the majestic Empire style desk acquired by King Carlos IV in 1803. It was on this desk that King Juan Carlos signed the Organic Act, confirming his abdication from the throne. Also on display are King Juan Carlos’ abdication speech and a copy of the proclamation speech of King Felipe VI.

The Royal Armory. source: Wikipedia, Photo by Jose Luis Filpo Cabana

The western wing houses the Royal Armory, which houses what is considered to be one of the best collections of armor in the world. Read more about the Royal Armory here.

Just to the south of the palace, across Armory Square, is the Cathedral of Saint Mary the Royal of La Almudena, which was the site of the 2004 wedding of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.

Learn more about the other Spanish Royal Residences here!

Zarzuela Palace and The Prince’s Pavilion

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Zarzuela Palace

Zarzuela Palace has been the residence of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain since their marriage in 1962. Today, it remains their home as well as housing the offices of King Felipe VI.

The palace began as a hunting lodge, built between 1627 and 1635, for King Felipe IV. It was originally just a rectangular building with two small side wings. It takes its name from the zarzas, or brambles, which were found on the original hunting grounds. The palace later gave its name to an operetta which was debuted at the Palace of El Pardo in 1657 for King Felipe IV. The building was later modified by King Carlos IV who installed many of the decorative features which exist today. Carlos IV filled the palace with tapestries and porcelain, as well as furniture and an extensive collection of clocks.

Zarzuela Palace prior to restoration in the 1950s

During the Spanish Civil War, the building suffered significant damage, and extensive restoration took place in the 1950s. In 1962, it became the residence of the future King Juan Carlos and his bride, Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark. Since 1981, it has also been the home of Queen Sofia’s sister, Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark. The private quarters are located in one of two wings which were built adjacent to the building in the 1990s. The other wing houses offices and security personnel.

King Juan Carlos meets with Pope Benedict in his office, 2011. source: Daily Mail/EPA

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The main floor of the palace contains formal reception rooms, a library, and a dining room. Also on the main floor is the King’s Office, which is currently used by King Felipe VI. Just next to the office is the Audience Hall, where the King receives guests and foreign visitors and often hosts meetings.

The Prince’s Pavilion

Located adjacent to Zarzuela Palace is the Prince’s Pavilion, the home of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia and their family. The home was built between 1999 -2002 to be a residence for the then-Prince of Asturias. Covering over 3,100 square meters, it is very much a private home. The first floor features several formal rooms used for entertaining and official functions, while the second floor is the private living quarters. Upon his accession, Felipe and Letizia chose to remain at their home, while the King took over his father’s offices at the Palace of Zarzuela.

Learn more about the other Spanish Royal Residences here!

The Royal Palace of Laeken

source: Wikipedia

The Royal Palace of Laeken

The Royal Palace of Laeken is the official residence of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium. Since Belgian independence in 1831, the palace has been the primary residence of the Belgian sovereigns, with the exception of King Albert II and Queen Paola, who chose to remain at the nearby Chateau Belvédère after his accession. The Palace is owned by the Belgian State (along with the Royal Palace of Brussels) and is placed at the disposal of the Sovereign.

At the time part of the Austrian Netherlands, the palace was built between 1782-1784 as a summer residence for the Governors of the Austrian Netherlands, Archduchess Maria Christina of Austria and her husband Duke Albert of Saxe-Teschen. After the area came under French rule in 1794, the palace was left abandoned for some time, and was near demolition. In 1804, it was purchased for 5 million francs by Napoleon Bonaparte, who went on to restore the palace to its former glory. He stayed there several times with his first wife, Josephine de Beauharnais, and later gave the property to her following their divorce.

In 1815, the Kingdom of the Netherlands was created, and the palace was acquired by King Willem I who also made renovations, adding an orangery and a theater. Following Belgian independence, the Palace of Laeken became the official residence of the newly elected King Leopold I in 1831.

It was King Leopold II (1865-1909) who made the most significant changes to the palace and the surrounding park. In 1874, he began building the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken, a project which would take over 20 years to complete. A fire in the palace on January 1, 1890 destroyed the dome and much of the north wing, which was soon rebuilt with the addition of two small pavilions on either side of the main palace block. Beginning in 1902, King Leopold II had two large wings built to flank the palace. The right-wing was to be the private apartments, while the left-wing was to be for guests. The work was not finished until after his death in 1909.

His successor, King Albert I, finished much of the remaining work. He also had an art studio built in the grounds for his wife, Queen Elisabeth (born Princess Elisabeth of Bavaria). King Albert I was succeeded by his son, King Leopold III in 1934. Within the year, Leopold’s wife Queen Astrid died tragically, and he and his children moved to the Palace of Laeken. From 1940-1944, Leopold III and his family were held under house arrest at the palace before being sent from the country. During his absence, his brother Charles, Count of Flanders, served as Regent and lived in the palace until Leopold’s return, and subsequent abdication, in 1951. Leopold was succeeded by his elder son, King Baudouin. Despite having abdicated, King Leopold III continued to live at the palace along with the new King, until Baudouin’s marriage in 1960.

After Baudouin’s death in 1993, Laeken remained the residence of his widow, Queen Fabiola. King Albert II chose to remain at Château Belvédère instead of moving to the larger palace. Queen Fabiola lived there until 1998 when she moved to the smaller Château Stuyvenberg just across the park. The Palace of Laeken then became the home of the Duke of Brabant, now King Philippe, in 1999 upon his marriage to Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz. Since Philippe’s accession to the throne in 2013, the Royal Palace of Laeken has once again become the home of the reigning Belgian monarch.

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Along with the Royal Palace of Brussels, the Palace of Laeken is often used to host official functions including State dinners. In addition, prior to his accession, King Philippe often hosted foreign guests at the palace. The photo above shows The Prince of Wales visiting with the then-Duke and Duchess of Brabant in 2008.

The palace is situated in The Royal Domain of Laeken – a large park (the size of Monaco!) which also includes several other royal residences, the Royal Stables, the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken, the Japanese Pagoda, and the Chinese Pavilion which are part of the Museums of the Far East, as well as a lake and golf course. The other royal residences are the Château Belvédère, the home of King Albert II and Queen Paola; Château Stuyvenberg, the former home of the late Queen Fabiola; and Villa Schonenberg, the home of Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz and their family.

The Royal Greenhouses. source: Wikipedia

The Royal Greenhouses were built by King Leopold II for the purpose of housing his vast collection of exotic and rare flowers and trees, many of which found their origins in the Congo. The buildings – particularly the large domed Winter Garden – have often been used for formal functions. The Greenhouses are open to the public for several weeks each spring.

The Royal Palace of Brussels

Royal Palace of Brussels

The Royal Palace of Brussels is the official home of the Belgian monarchy. Although not currently used as an official residence of the Belgian royal family, the palace is used for official and State functions and houses the offices of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, as well as the Royal Court. The Royal Palace of Brussels is owned by the Belgian State. The King and Queen reside instead at the Royal Palace of Laeken.

Brussels became one of the joint capitals (along with The Hague) of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands following the Congress of Vienna in 1814. In order to provide a residence for the King of the Netherlands, two large mansions in downtown Brussels – the Di Belgioioso House and the Von Vender House – were joined together. The street between them was closed, and a gallery was built, connecting the two buildings to form one larger, albeit rather disjointed, palace. Work took place for several years, and in 1829, the property was made available to King Willem I. However, after the Belgian Revolution the following year, the palace became the official residence of the newly elected Belgian sovereign, King Leopold I (Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha). The new king used the palace primarily for official functions while using the nearby Palace of Laeken as his primary residence.

The Royal Palace in 1852; Credit – Wikipedia

It was during the reign of King Leopold II that the palace underwent significant change. Feeling that the palace was not grand enough for a Sovereign, he nearly doubled the size of the building, adding many of the formal state rooms and galleries which exist today. His contributions include the Grand Staircase and The Throne Room among many others. He also established formal apartments for foreign guests. Following his death in 1909, the building was given a new façade, which included a formal garden in front of the palace.

Subsequent sovereigns and their consorts have added their own touches to the palace. Most prominent is Queen Paola who began to incorporate some modern art into the decor, seamlessly blending it with some of the old paintings and sculptures from the royal collection.

The Grand Staircase. photo: © Susan Flantzer

The Empire Room. photo © Susan Flantzer. The Empire Room was added by King Willem I of the Netherlands to serve as a ballroom.

The Large White Drawing Room. photo © Susan Flantzer. The Large White Drawing Room, along with the adjoining Small White Drawing Room, are decorated with furniture given by the King of France to his daughter and son-in-law, King Leopold I.

The Venice Staircase. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Goya Room. photo © Susan Flantzer. The Goya Room takes its name from the tapestries on the walls, depicting works by Francisco de Goya.

The Louis XVI Room. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Throne Room. photo © Susan Flantzer. Added by King Leopold II, the Throne Room features bas-reliefs by Auguste Rodin, representing the provinces of Belgium (with the exception of Brabant, where the palace is located)

The Grand Gallery. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Blue Room originally served as an antechamber, but later became a dining room for court dignitaries. source: Wikipedia

One of the grandest rooms in the palace is The Hall of Mirrors (see photo here). Added by King Leopold II, the room was intended to evoke the Congo. Decorated with marble and copper, the King had planned for allegorical scenes of Africa to adorn the walls. However, he died before it could be completed, and his successor, King Albert I, adorned the walls with mirrors instead, thus giving the room its name. An art project in 2002, under the initiative of Queen Paola, saw the unfinished ceiling finally completed. The artist Jan Fabre installed over a million shells of the Thai Jewel Beetle, giving the ceiling a beautiful green hue. One of the grand chandeliers was also incorporated into the design.

Skaugum Estate

source: The Royal House of Norway, Photo: Cornelius Poppe, Scanpix

Skaugum Estate

Located in Asker, the Skaugum Estate is the home of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway and their family and has been the official residence of the heir to the Norwegian throne since 1929. It is privately owned. The estate encompasses approximately 242 acres, of which 118 are farmed and 124 are forests. In addition to the main house, there are numerous other buildings and structures, many of which are lodgings for current and former employees of the estate.

the original house, c.1921. source: Wikipedia

The property had once been a monastery and was affiliated with the Church of Mary in Oslo. After changing hands several times, it was purchased by Fritz Wedel Jarlsberg, a Minister in the Norwegian government, in 1909. When Crown Prince Olav (later King Olav V) married Princess Märtha of Sweden in 1929, it was necessary for them to have their own home. Jarlsberg arranged to sell the property to Olav, and the newly married couple took up residency after their marriage.

The new house, c1932. source: Wikipedia

The original building was destroyed by fire in 1930, and a new structure was built on the foundations of the old one. The new building was completed in 1932.

In 1968, upon the marriage of Crown Prince Harald (later King Harald V) to Sonja Haraldsen, King Olav transferred ownership of the property to his son. In turn, King Harald gave the property to Crown Prince Haakon in 2001, upon his marriage to Mette-Marit Høiby. Following extensive renovations, partially funded by the Norwegian government, the couple took up residence just before Christmas 2003.

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit at Skaugum. source: The Royal House of Norway

The L-shaped building includes several representation rooms on the main floor, with the private living quarters upstairs. It is designed to be, first and foremost, a family home, while also being able to accommodate official functions and events for the couple.

Learn more about the other Norwegian Royal Residences here!

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