How Kate Middleton Inspired Queen Elizabeth In Changing 'Centuries Old' Sandringham Estate
The Queen has greenlighted a new project on the grounds of Royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk earlier this week, which was apparently inspired by Kate Middleton.
A huge adventure playground is to be built right next to the house of the Queen in Sandringham, which will replace the existing smaller play area. The new adventure park will be constructed among the trees and include swings, slides, and a high-level walkaway.
Kate Middleton served as the inspiration for the park, according to a Palace source. The Queen's inspiration was the Duchess’s Chelsea Flower Show last year, where Kate help to create the ‘Back To Nature’ garden that featured a rope swing, a tepee hideaway, and a treehouse.
The Duchess of Cambridge’s biggest muse for her own nature garden was her three children, Prince George,7, Princess Charlotte, 5, and Prince Louis, 2.
Sandringham Estate is one of the biggest tourist attractions among the royal properties. It attracts over 500,000 tourists per year. The new playground will be a great addition for the visitors.
Details of the planned playground were released, revealing several tall treehouses built inspired by the buildings in the Estate, including St. Mary’s Chapel.
There will also be an enclosed play structure, which will mimic Queen Alexandra’s Nest, a summer house built in 1913, while the Appleton Water Tower will serve as the centerpiece of the playground.
The royal palace has commissioned Creating Adventurous Spaces Ltd. to design the ground-breaking playground in Sandringham.
Children will not be the only group to enjoy the play area, as the proposed design of Creating Adventurous Spaces includes an area for toddlers.
Her Majesty was also advised to take into consideration the plants and flowers that will be used to embellish the playground. According to DailyMail UK, the Queen has chosen bat-friendly flowers, such as honeysuckle, ivy, cherry pie, soapwort, evening primrose, night-scented stock, bladder champion, and Nottingham catchfly.
Plans for the playground have been ecologically appraised, with low-waste materials to be used for the commodities by National Policy Planning Framework (NPPF). The NPPF requires that the Queen’s new playground apply ‘Biodiversity Net Gain,’ which means leaving biodiversity in a state better than before.
The Royal Family is known to put great importance on keeping nature a priority. Both Prince Charles and Prince William are big environmentalists.
The playground’s approval is a sign that the Royal Family is getting ready for big changes, not only with royal properties but also with the succession.