In the depths of the Gloucestershire countryside, Gatcombe Park is a private royal residence best known as the home of The Princess Royal.
With its stunning rural setting, historic architecture, and equestrian connections, Gatcombe Park is a fascinating part of the British Royal Family’s collection of homes.
Gatcombe Park dates back to the 18th century. The main house was built in the 1770s for Edward Sheppard, a local cloth merchant, and later passed through several prominent owners. It was designed in a Georgian style, featuring a symmetrical facade, large sash windows, and elegant interiors.
In 1976, Queen Elizabeth II purchased the estate as a private home for her daughter, Princess Anne, following her marriage to Captain Mark Phillips. The move was intended to provide Anne and her family with a peaceful retreat away from the public eye, while also offering ample space for equestrian activities, one of her lifelong passions.
Gatcombe Park, home of Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, in Gloucestershire
The previous owner was Lord Butler of Saffron Walden, Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, and a former Home Secretary, who had inherited the house from his father-in-law, the art collector Samuel Courtauld. Courtauld had acquired it from the Ricardo family in 1940. The Crown paid for the renovation and redecoration of the house for Princess Anne and Captain Phillips, who moved into it in November 1977. In 1978 the estate was enlarged by the purchase of Aston Farm to the east.
The estate was divided when the Princess Royal and Mark Phillips were divorced, and today the Princess lives at Gatcombe Park with her second husband, Sir Timothy Laurence. After the divorce, for some years Mark Phillips lived at Aston Farm with his second wife, but he later moved to the United States. Their children Peter and Zara Phillips each had a cottage on the estate until they married. Peter and his then-wife, Autumn, then moved to London. Zara and her husband, Mike Tindall, at first lived in Cheltenham after they were married in 2011, but in January 2013 they sold their house and moved to the Gatcombe estate.
Gatcombe Park covers approximately 730 acres of farmland, woodland, and parkland. Unlike more formal royal residences, it is a working estate, meaning it includes livestock, agricultural operations, and horse breeding facilities.
The grounds are best known for hosting the Gatcombe Horse Trials, a prestigious annual equestrian event that attracts top riders from around the world. This reflects Princess Anne’s deep involvement in the equestrian world, as both an Olympic-level rider and a former president of the British Olympic Association.
A rare interior insight into Gatcombe Park. (Royal Family)
As a private residence, Gatcombe Park’s interiors remain largely undisclosed, but it is believed to reflect classic Georgian architecture with high ceilings, grand fireplaces, and period features. However, royal watchers were given an sneak peak inside the residence in 2021, where we can see a cosy living room full of family photos, paintings, books and trinkets gathered over the years.
Based on occasional glimpses, the decor is thought to be traditional yet cozy, reflecting Princess Anne’s practical, no-nonsense lifestyle. Reports suggest the home features wood-panelled rooms and antique furnishings, comfortable yet understated interiors, in contrast to grander royal palaces and equestrian-themed decor, reflecting the family’s love of horses.
At Gatcombe Estate with Princess Anne, Suffolk Punch horse. Sarah Farnsworth / © Country Life Picture Library
Princess Anne continues to reside at Gatcombe Park, along with her second husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence. The estate is also home to her children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, who live in separate properties on the grounds with their families.
Zara Tindall, an Olympic silver-medalist equestrian, benefits from the estate’s facilities, using the grounds for horse training and competitions.
Unlike other royal properties, Gatcombe Park is not open to the public, as it remains a private residence. However, the estate does host equestrian events, including the Festival of British Eventing, which was cancelled in 2024 due to the costs of running the event.
Gatcombe Park stands out among royal residences as a practical, working estate, reflecting Princess Anne’s down-to-earth personality and deep-rooted connection to equestrian life. While it remains largely private, its role in British equestrian sports and its status as a family hub for the Princess Royal and her children make it a unique and significant part of the royal landscape.
