Sandringham head gardener’s home becomes holiday let

The former home of the head gardener at a royal estate is being offered as a holiday let – with a stately price tag attached.

The six-bedroom Gardens House was once the residence of the head gardener on the Sandringham Estate, the Norfolk home of King Charles III.

It is being marketed as a holiday let “within the heart of Sandringham’s royal grounds”, with the cost starting from £4,110 per week.

Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty Magazine, said the let was a sign that royal estates were “actively striving to bolster their revenue streams” and the house would appeal to “well healed Brits”.

The Gardens House joins another property on the Sandringham estate, called The Folly, as holiday homes available to the general public.

The Sandringham Estate covers approximately 20,000 acres (8,100 hectares) with 600 acres (242 hectares) of gardens.

The estate is a popular tourist destination with both the house and garden open to the public.

Within the grounds is a working sawmill and organic farm – and a number of properties.

‘The Gardens House sleeps eight people, has three bathrooms and is dog-friendly.

The listing describes it as “once home to the Estate’s head gardener, this handsome brick residence now offers guests a rare invitation to experience the grace and quiet rhythm of life on one of Britain’s most storied country estates”.

Mr Little said royal estates had always had commercial offers but the way they were being presented had changed.

“The way in which these properties are marketed is much more upfront these days, a consequence perhaps of the fairly recent change of ownership,” he said.

“Given the grandeur of The Folly, in particular, there is a heightened awareness that the privately owned royal estates are actively striving to bolster their revenue streams.”

Sandringham is not the first royal residence to rent out property to holidaymakers, with eight cottages and lodges available for hire at Balmoral Castle, Scotland.

It is stated on the Balmoral website that “some cottages are not available for rent for certain dates during the Royal Family’s visit”.