Reports suggest that Andrew could be moved into Marsh Farm by Easter (Image: Getty)
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is preparing for his upcoming move to Marsh Farm, which is reportedly taking place within the next few days. He left Royal Lodge in Windsor last month and has been staying temporarily at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate. While his belongings make the journey north, there’s one treasured piece of royal history that has been under his care for several years and is unlikely to travel with him.
Located in the garden of Andrew‘s former residence is Y Bwthyn Bach, which is Welsh for « The Little Cottage. » Gifted to the future Queen Elizabeth II for her sixth birthday by the people of Wales in 1932, this life-sized playhouse has been described as “the most glamorous Wendy house ever.”
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The playhouse was a gift from the people of Wales (Image: Getty)
The miniature two-storey thatched cottage was designed by architect Edmund Willmott in the style of a traditional Welsh cottage and features a kitchen, living room, and upstairs bedroom and bathroom. It has a total of four rooms and even has a plumbed-in kitchen and bathroom with hot and cold water, electricity and a heated towel rail in the bathroom.
The playhouse’s kitchen comes fully equipped with a working fridge, gas stove, and a tiny blue-and-white porcelain dining and tea set.
In the living room, a miniature radio operates, a small oak dresser sits neatly in place, and a bookcase is stocked with the beloved stories of Beatrix Potter. Above the oak mantlepiece hangs a portrait of Princess Elizabeth’s mother, the Duchess of York, completing the charming interior.
Built using leftover materials from the redevelopment of Llandough Hospital, Bwthyn Bach has been enjoyed by generations of royals.
Custody of the playhouse passed to Andrew when he held the title Duke of York, and he reportedly covered its maintenance costs.
His daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, were among the next generation to enjoy the cottage. Princess Beatrice later led a restoration of the playhouse and described it in a 2012 BBC documentary marking Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee as “the most glamorous Wendy house ever.”
With Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor stepping back from royal duties, the future of the playhouse remains uncertain. Buckingham Palace has confirmed that Y Bwthyn Bach is officially owned by King Charles III, the BBC reported.
Historians have suggested it could even return to Wales, perhaps to St Fagans, to honour its origins and historical significance.
Historian Dr Elin Jones told the BBC: « Both the Royal Family and the governments of England and Wales have other things to think about, which are rather more pressing and important than a child’s plaything.
« But it could be argued that the best place for this little cottage… might be for it to come back to Wales and go to St Fagans as part of the history of our country.
« The house is an interesting expression of the loyalty felt by Welsh people towards the Royal family for centuries. »
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