Queen Elizabeth’s childhood was far from being normal because she reportedly had an awareness that her dad would one day become king.
During a discussion on Podcast Royal, royal authors Rachel Bowie and Roberta Fiorito shared some of their discoveries about the queen while doing their research for their book, Royal Trivia: Your Guide to the Modern British Royal Family.
The royal authors were asked by the host what information about Queen Elizabeth they found most surprising. Fiorito said that she had the most interest in finding out details about the monarch’s childhood.
She and Bowie learned that the queen lived in a house called 145 Piccadilly, which now houses the hotel InterContinental London Park Lane.
“It was called 145 Piccadilly, and it's the place where they grew up, and it was very much low security, which is just so crazy to imagine now. There was even a doorbell right next to the door that said there was a button for visitors and there was a button for the home and so it just feels really interesting to kind of peek back into her history and learn a little bit more about the Queen Her Majesty,” Bowie said.
The queen’s childhood home reportedly had pale green columns and soft brown carpet that led to the morning room. The interiors also featured chintz-covered armchairs and a Persian carpet. And the windows were directly facing the gardens.
The ground floor of the queen’s childhood home features her late father’s study, as well as a dining room. The first floor was where the Queen Mother’s bedroom was. On the top floor were the queen and Princess Margaret’s nurseries that featured carpets, fireplaces, and armchairs.
In 1937, the queen and her entire family moved out of 145 Piccadilly after King George VI ascended the throne. Three years later, the property was badly damaged during the World War II bombings, according to Express.
As the queen of Britain, the queen now has several homes. According to Architectural Digest, the monarch primarily lived at Buckingham Palace with her late husband, Prince Philip.
Prior to the Duke of Edinburgh’s death, the queen and her husband lived at Windsor Castle.
The queen also owns Balmoral Castle, where she spends time during her breaks. During the holiday season, the queen heads to Sandringham with the royal family to celebrate the occasion.