Frogmore House and Gardens will be opening for a few days in May, June and August to raise money for charity.
The house, located in Windsor Castle’s Home Park, is used by the Royal Family privately for entertaining, but will open 18-20th May, 2-4th June and 25-27th August in support of The National Gardens Scheme, The Animal Health Trust, and St Dunstan’s, as well as the NSPCC, The Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust.
Frogmore House
The admission prices for entry are reduced, compared to the standard entry price; £9 for adults over £9.80 standard admission. These specific days will support the aforementioned charities.
The house was built in 1680 for Thomas May and Anne Aldworth, who leased the tenancy at the time and was almost certainly designed by Hugh May, responsible for updates to Windsor Castle under Charles II.
George III, famed for his madness, purchased the house in 1792 for Queen Charlotte to use as a country retreat outside of London. Frogmore enabled the Queen to escape the hustle and bustle of court life; her daughters also used the house for typical activities of the period such as reading, painting and needlework.
Victoria, Duchess of Kent lived at Frogmore for almost two decades, and Queen Victoria would spend much time here following Prince Albert’s death. Watercolours and artwork by Victoria and her daughters, Princesses Victoria and Louise, can also be seen in the house.
Frogmore Mausoleum
Albert’s death also had an impact on the house, with Victoria building Frogmore Mausoleum for him. She paid for the construction herself, and the mausoleum was to be Prince Albert’s resting place, and Victoria’s when the time came.
This set a precedent for the burial of Royals at Frogmore, and the mausoleum contains Victoria’s children, Princess Helena, Prince Arthur, Princess Louise, as well as Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor, and his wife Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor, and Sir Angus Ogilvy, husband of Princess Alexandra.
In 1977, during The Queen’s Silver Jubilee, Her Majesty received a number of plants, trees and shrubs as gifts. They were all planted at Frogmore, adding to Queen Mary’s efforts, who redesigned Queen Charlotte’s gardens. Frogmore’s gardens are very tranquil and attract thousands of visitors each year.
Photo Credit: Karen Roe
