Princess Eugenie wedding: Inside Royal Lodge - Princess Eugenie’s reception venue
PRINCESS Eugenie will marry Jack Brooksbank this week, in the second Royal Wedding of 2018. Here is a glimpse inside their extravagant reception venue - The Royal Lodge.
The pair met whilst on skiing holidays to Switzerland and became engaged in January this year.
Ninth in line to the throne, Princess Eugenie has planned a lavish two-day wedding celebration.
This will be the second royal wedding of the year and will take place in the same venue as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s, St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
Following the ceremony, the Queen will host one reception inside Windsor Castle, then a black tie evening reception will take place at the Royal Lodge.
This will then be the venue for the second day of celebrations on October 13.
Inside the Royal Lodge
The Royal Lodge is in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire around three miles south of Windsor Castle.
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The Grade II listed property is the official residence of the Duke of York, Prince Andrew - Princess Eugenie’s father.
Prince Andrew was granted a 75-year lease of the Royal Lodge in 2003.
Before this, for over 70 years the Royal Lodge was home to the Queen Mother until her death in 2002.
Prince Andrew is said to have spent £7.5million renovating the Georgian house, adding an indoor swimming pool and driving range.
The actual Lodge as it is today has undergone several renovations - from being a small house in the 17th Century to an elaborate cottage, before growing to have seven bedrooms.
The Royal Lodge was originally built for George IV, in order for the King to host guests during the Royal Ascot.
In 2008, despite their divorce in 1996, Sarah Ferguson moved into the Royal Lodge with Prince Andrew in order to be with their children Beatrice and Eugenie.
She remained in the Royal Lodge until July 2015, when a moving van was seen removing her belongings.
However, according to her spokesman Sarah still has a bedroom at the lodge “for family occasions.”
There are not many images of the property or gardens, as with other private royal residences.
The most recent photo was taken inside the Lodge when Princess Eugenie took part in a magazine shoot for Harper’s Bazaar.
The image shows Eugenie in the Lodge’s sitting room, which is filled with luxurious rugs, antique furniture and two elaborate chandeliers.
For Eugenie’s wedding, the 51 acres the property sits in will be transformed into a funfair-themed reception for the second day.
A royal source told The Daily Telegraph: "After the more formal celebration at Windsor Castle, the Saturday bash will be a relaxed party.
"There will be dodgems and funfair rides, coconut shies, lots of food stalls, loads of cocktails, Bloody Marys for the hangovers and a festival vibe."