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Queen Elizabeth II, 94, is one of the biggest landowners in Britain and has a huge portfolio of properties. From castles to city mansions and quaint country cottages, the Queen is in the habit of gifting her royal relatives new homes when they marry.

The generous habit is touched upon in new book Finding Freedom by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand that details Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s departure as senior royals.

In an extract about how the Queen came to present Meghan and Harry Frogmore Cottage following their wedding, a royal source is quoted as saying “It’s her thing!”

The authors write: “The Queen took great pleasure in gifting homes to her family members, a senior aide said.

“Her Majesty gave Sunninghill Park to Prince Andrew; Bagshot Park to Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex; and Anmer Hall to William and Kate.

“‘It’s her thing!’ the aide added.

The Queen has a handful of royal residences that she and Prince Philip split their time between.

The Queen’s residences include Balmoral Castle in Scotland where she and the Duke are currently spending their summer break.

There is also Craigowan Lodge a small hunting lodge in the grounds of the Balmoral estate.

Buckingham Palace is the Queen’s official royal residence in London where her operations have been traditionally based.

The Queen also owns Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland and The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland.

Sandringham in Norfolk is where the Royal Family traditionally spend Christmas.

The 1,000-room Windsor Castle is the largest and longest-occupied residence of its kind in Europe.

Windsor Castle is where the Queen and Philip spent lockdown and is expected to become the Queen’s official base following the pandemic.

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As well as the residences the Queen has gifted her four children and grandchildren, most senior royals have more than one residence.

Heir apparent Prince Charles has Clarence House in London, Birkhall cottage in Scotland, Highgrove House in Tetbury and Tamarisk House, Isles of Scilly.

Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge have their Kensington Palace apartment and Anmer Hall in Norfolk which was gifted to them by the Queen.

Prince Harry and Meghan have held onto Frogmore Cottage in Windsor despite having recently bought and moved into a mansion in Santa Barbara, California.

The Queen’s daughter Princess Anne was gifted Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire as a wedding present.

The Princess Royal has her official office at St James’s Palace in London.

Prince Andrew has the Royal Lodge in Egham where the Queen Mother previously lived.

Prince Edward and Sophie were gifted Bagshot Park in Surrey by the Queen following their wedding in 1999.

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