Gatcombe Park – where Princess Anne lives with her her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence

Anne, The Princess Royal, has had a notable presence by her late mother, Queen Elizabeth II's side since her death on 8 September 2022. The only daughter of the late Queen, Princess Anne was once confirmed as the busiest member of the royal family. 

While this hard-working Princess maintains a London residence at the prestigious St James's Palace. The working palace – the most senior royal residence in the United Kingdom – is mostly used for state visits, ceremonial occasions, and as a base for charity events. 

However, the late Queen Elizabeth's daughter and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, spend most of their time at Gatcombe Park, their private country home in Gloucestershire and one of the world's best homes. 

This 700-acre royal estate is home to the late Queen’s only daughter and her family, and regularly hosts equestrian events held by the Princess. Located in the Gloucestershire countryside, the estate’s main building is a grade II listed nine-bed house.

Where is Gatcombe Park?

Located between the villages of Minchinhampton and Avening, Gatcombe is in the heart of the Cotswolds, just a few miles away from impressive Highgrove House, King Charles III' home in nearby Tetbury.

Who lives at Gatcombe Park?

Gatcombe Park is home to Anne, The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence. The royal couple also shares this home with their children, Zara Anne Elizabeth Tindall MBE and Peter Mark Andrew Phillips, alongside their growing family. 

The Princess Royal’s 730-acre Gatcombe Park estate in Minchinhampton, began to turn organic after her former husband, Capt Mark Phillips, ceased to farm it in the 1990s.

The Princess Royal was gifted the country home, Gatcombe Park Estate, by her late mother Queen Elizabeth II in 1976. The home reportedly cost between $500,000 and $750,000 to purchase at the time.

Queen Elizabeth II bought the property from Conservative politician, R.A. Butler, as a wedding present for her daughter and her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, after they wed in 1973. The couple moved in a year later and raised their two children, Peter and Zara, on the estate. 

After their divorce in 1992, Mark moved into nearby Aston Farm. A few months later, Anne married her second husband Lawrence, who has helped her maintain the grand estate ever since.

Today, Gatcombe Park is run as a working farm with a range of livestock, including breeding horses and many cattle, she told Country Life in an interview. It is also home to the Festival of British Eventing, which takes place on the grounds every August, reflecting both Anne and her daughter Zara's passion for equestrian events. 

What are the Gatcombe Park grounds?

The Gatcombe Park estate is well-known in the equestrian world for hosting many of the sport's annual events.

It is also the former home of the Festival of British Eventing, and Zara Tindall herself has often competed there. And Princess Anne has always been keen to make the estate work and earn money for itself, as she revealed on the BBC program Countryfile. She explained, 'It's really nice to come back and just be yourself in an area like this. Being able to take on a place like this – for me, I’ve got to make it work. This is not something that comes free, this has got to pay its way, otherwise, I can’t stay here.'

Is Gatcombe Park open to the public?

Gatcombe Park is a private residence, and therefore, not open to the public. However, Gatcombe Park and the surrounding area play host to many equestrian events throughout the year, many of which are open to the public.