Anmer Hall, a Royal Country Home

Anmer Hall, one of the many charming properties that lies in the Sandringham estate, was given to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge by Queen Elizabeth II  as a country home. It lies only two miles away from the Sandringham House.  Anmer Hall was built in the 18th century in the late Georgian style by a landed family. It was later acquired on behalf of Albert Edward Prince of Wales to become part of the Sandringham estate. The country house was the seat of the Coldham family, at least since 1705. In 1862, the neighboring Sandringham estate was purchased by Queen Victoria as a wedding present for the Prince of Wales. More than three decades later, Anmer Hall estate was auctioned off for £25,000 and it fell into the hands of famed serial fraudster Ernest Terah Hooley.

The Prince already planned to acquire the property even before Hooley got his hands on the estate. The royal persisted and through an intermediary, he succeeded in purchasing it apparently for his daughter, Princess Maud. However, the princess never really lived here since she was Appleton House, another property in the Sandringham estate. Hooley agreed to sell the property at costly sum. It was believed that the prince really wanted to buy Anmer Hall was to ensure that Alexander Meyrick Broadley would not stay near him. Broadley was Hooley's business promoter who the prince forced out of society.

Anmer Hall was once the country home of the Duke and Duchess of Kent. They moved here in 1972 after financial constraints forced them to sell Coppins, their country house in Iver, Buckinghamshire. They eventually moved out and transferred to Crockerend House. From 1990 to 2000, it was rented by Hugh van Cutsem, a close friend of Prince Charles'. James Everett, a kitchen and timber magnate, then moved in until their lease was terminated early, before its expiry in 2017, to allow redevelopment. The house was given a £1.5 million-make over using the Royal Family's private funds. A complete new roof, kitchen and conservatory  was installed. The interiors were also spruced  up and extensive tree-planting program was commended to give the family more privacy.