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» boat builders, » boating events, 40,000 lego bricks: the scale model of royal yacht britannia to be unveiled at leith, a lego replica model of the queen's former floating palace, the royal yacht britannia, is to be unveiled at the five-star attraction in leith. created using 40,000 lego bricks, and measuring more than 11ft (3m), the 1:37 scale model will go on display at britannia's visitor centre on saturday. it has been designed and constructed from britannia's original drawings. it took lego model builder and fisherman, jim mcdonough, 51, five weeks to create. he built the ship on the dining room table in his home near arbroath and said there was no glue used in its construction. he said everything could be taken apart. the replica has the onboard phantom v rolls-royce in its garage and the white baby grand piano in britannia's royal deck tea room. bob downie, britannia's chief executive, said; "we are thrilled with our lego britannia. "jim has produced an outstanding replica model of the ship which will be on display during the queen's 90th birthday year and this unique piece is sure to be a highlight for lego fans, young and old." mr mcdonough, said: "it was an honour to be asked to build the royal yacht britannia, and it's one of the most exciting projects i've ever undertaken, and being able to refer to the original plans, kindly supplied by britannia, allowed me to produce this replica of her majesty's yacht." the royal yacht britannia was home to the queen and the royal family for more than 40 years and sailed more than a million miles around the world. britannia has held the accolade of being scotland's best visitor attraction for 10 years in a row and in tripadvisor's top three uk landmark attractions for two years..
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A SENSE OF OCCASION
A red carpet welcome awaits for the event of a lifetime aboard the former Royal residence of Queen Elizabeth II.
Unobtrusive excellence
Follow in the footsteps of Royalty as you board Britannia via the Royal Brow, an entrance previously reserved for the Royal Family.
With passion and precision
There is no detail too small for our meticulous in-house team as they carefully prepare for each event.
Treat your guests like Royalty
Everything is replicated to the same high standards as when Britannia was in Royal service.
Exquisite Cuisine
Experience exceptional fine dining prepared in the original Royal Galleys.
Event of a lifetime
Host your special event on board one of the most luxurious five-star venues in the world.
A Place to do Business
Queen Elizabeth II hosted many business events on board during Britannia's 44 years at sea.
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Visiting Britannia
TRIPADVISOR'S NO.1 UK ATTRACTION 2023 - 2024
The Royal Yacht Britannia is scheduled to be closed 7 – 10 October for planned building works out with our control.
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Fingal Hotel
Get away from the everyday aboard Britannia’s sister ship, Fingal. Extend your visit with a stay in one of Fingal’s luxurious cabins, your own oasis by the sea.
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Exploring Royal Scotland: The Royal Yacht Britannia
In honour of The Queen’s Holyrood Week, we’re taking a look at royal history in and around Edinburgh. Our senior reporter Kristin Contino headed to Scotland to find out more about some favourite royal spots.
“Britannia is the one place where I can truly relax,” The Queen once said, and when you tour the ship for yourself, you can understand exactly why.
The decommissioned yacht, now permanently docked in Edinburgh’s Leigh neighbourhood, is one of Scotland’s most popular tourist attractions, but for 44 years, it was the floating palace of Britain’s royal family.
History of the yacht
The Royal Yacht Britannia was launched in 1953 and during four decades of royal service sailed the equivalent of once around the world for each year, calling at more than 600 ports in 135 countries.
The Queen and her family spent many royal tours and holidays aboard Britannia, as well as honeymoons. Four royal honeymoons took place on the yacht, including Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales; Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York; Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones; and Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips. Interestingly, all of these marriages ended in divorce.
The Queen and Prince Philip attended a ceremony celebrating the yacht travelling one million miles in 1994, but the same year, John Major’s Government announced there would be no refit for Britannia as the costs would be too great. The question of a replacement yacht was a hot topic leading up to the 1997 election, but the new Labour Government announced there would not be a new royal yacht in October 1997.
The Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned on 11 December 1997 in Portsmouth, and the ceremony is one of the rare times Her Majesty has ever cried in public. All the clocks on Britannia were stopped at 15:01, the time The Queen was piped ashore for the last time, and remain that way to this day.
In 1998, Britannia permanently docked in Edinburgh and opened its doors as a tourist attraction. It has been named as Scotland’s best visitor attraction by Visit Scotland for the past 12 years, and 95 per cent of items on display are originals on loan from The Royal Collection. This is definitely not a recreation, but what the ship actually looked like when the family used it.
Touring the ship
One of the things that surprised me about Britannia is you actually can’t see the ship from the road, as it’s blocked by a large shopping mall called Ocean Terminal.
I can imagine it’s fairly depressing for The Queen to have her beloved Britannia now docked with a permanent view of a Debenhams, but it’s lucky for visitors to Edinburgh that they can experience the royal yacht for themselves.
After taking an elevator inside Ocean Terminal, you enter Britannia through what looks like a typical mall store. A massive LEGO Britannia sits in a glass case next to the ticket desk, and you walk through a gallery of images and information about the history of the ship until you reach a hallway where you collect your audio guide headset and cross a bridge outside to board the yacht.
The audio guide does an excellent job covering the different rooms and their purposes. A special children’s version of the audio tour was entertaining for my son, and they even had a Corgi hunt aboard the ship.
Children (or children-at-heart) are invited to count the stuffed dogs they see on the tour of Britannia and when you exit – through the gift shop, of course – you’ll be given a badge if you count the correct number.
You first enter the ship and see The Bridge, where the officers navigated the yacht around the world. Later in the tour, you’ll see the below decks areas where officers and crew members lived and worked, and the engine room with its gleaming brass fixtures. But most visitors are probably there to see what was the highlight of my tour: The state apartments.
Britannia is the only place you can see one of The Queen’s bedrooms since you don’t get to view these types of private rooms on the tours of Buckingham Palace or Balmoral. Both The Queen and Prince Philip slept in cosy, quite simple bedrooms with single beds (no shared room for them, but the bedrooms are connected by a door).
The only room on the ship with a double bed is the room Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales used on their honeymoon; Prince Charles had the bed specially brought in for the occasion.
Touring the state apartments the visitor gets a sense of just how normal (or as close to “normal”) life was for The Queen and her family on the yacht. Nothing here is grandiose, and The Queen and Prince Philip decorated this way specifically to make the ship feel homely and laid back, more like a country house than a palace. This also makes sense given the post-WWII period when the ship was built, when it would have been unseemly to splash out on gilded, over-the-top surroundings.
The floral sofas in the state drawing room, for example, wouldn’t look out of place in an episode of The Golden Girls. This drawing room, which could hold up to 250 people, is where the family would chat by the fire, play games, and entertain guests after dinner, and the baby grand piano in the room was played by Diana, Princess of Wales and Princess Margaret over the years.
Even the white-panelled state dining room, which is the most formal room on Britannia, is lovely but fairly simple in terms of its decor. This lets the floral centrepieces, candles, and beautiful crystal and china on the table take centre stage. You can see various artefacts from state visits around the world here, such as swords and other trinkets, and these are displayed both in glass cabinets and on the walls.
This room is now available for hire to corporations and private guests, and it must be a wonderful venue for a special event. Britannia, in fact, is where Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall held their pre-wedding cocktail party in 2011.
The teak-panelled sun lounge, overlooking the deck, was The Queen’s favourite room, and I have to agree it was mine as well. This is where Her Majesty would take breakfast and afternoon tea every day, and the family would relax and engage in hobbies such as cards or painting. Prince Philip enjoyed setting up his easel to paint, and you can see one in the corner of the room – next to the drinks cabinet.
The sun lounge overlooks the ship’s verandah deck, where the family would sunbathe, play games, dance and enjoy the sea views. I recently saw a video on a royal documentary with Prince Charles sliding across the deck on a makeshift water slide and couldn’t help but laugh as I stood on deck picturing the scene.
It’s not hard to imagine why the family enjoyed their time onboard so much, as it afforded them the moments of privacy they so rarely got to experience.
Below decks, you can view the crew’s quarters and some of the working areas. Britannia really was like a floating city, with its own post office, several pubs, a hospital wing – including operating theatre – and a laundry room.
Fun fact: The Royal Yachtsmen, also known as “Yotties,” aboard Britannia sometimes had to change uniform up to six times a day. That being said, Britannia also was the only ship in the Royal Navy to have a laundry service permanently on board. Temperatures in the room could reach 120 degrees with the steam presses, dryers, and laundry machines constantly in use.
Before you leave the ship, I highly recommend the Royal Deck Tea Room. My family and I enjoyed a really lovely tea with amazing sea views (it didn’t hurt we were seated right by the windows).
The royal family used to use this room for entertaining and playing deck games, and with soft music playing and a vintage feel the overall vibe makes you feel like you could have been in the 1950s or 60s when Britannia was in its heyday.
Having tea and cakes here was the perfect way to end my day aboard Britannia – well, until I made my way into the gift shop.
For more information on the Royal Yacht Britannia or to purchase tickets, visit their website .
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Royal Yacht Britannia
By jim7564 , May 6, 2016 in LEGO Town
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Jim7564 .
Here is the Royal Yacht I was asked to build for the RYB Edinburgh.very enjoyable to build when you have an endless supply of bricks.and a change from the usual grey bricks i normally use.finished it measures 11 ft x 18 inches,approx 30,000 pcs plus another 30,000 1x1 trans clear blue for the water effect,
10,000 dark blue make up the hull
boat davits all work like their supposed to
this is the tearoom which was added after she was retired to a floating museum,
plenty gold finishes it off nicely,
added extra
finished off with a good few thousand tiles to give it a smooth appearance,and dark brown for the wooden handrail around the hull.the roof of the tea room has over 600 white tiles.
on display in the RYB visitors centre in Leith
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Link to post, share on other sites, ron dayes .
What a great Ship! Excellent shaping and incredible detail all around! And dark blue hull - you are one lucky guy;)
How long did it take you to finish this?
Eilif
Excellent work. I love the variety of lifeboats and tenders you included.
Captain Braunsfeld
What an extraordinary effort!
Wow! What a great Ship! Excellent shaping and incredible detail all around! And dark blue hull - you are one lucky guy;) How long did it take you to finish this?
It took 2 months to build (including dismantling 3 times to get every aspect right for the customer,it was built as it was in its day then we decided to add the tearoom which made a massive improvement to the overall look) and a day to set up in the display case
Kai NRG
.thumb.png.9e4550e6d7606030f9d13d7d604b4ec6.png "royal yacht britannia lego")
KlodsBrik
Another great ship from you.
Looking at MOC's this scale always makes me wish I had the funds to do something similar.
Thelonious Sparke
Wow. This is awesome!!
Jedi Master
I wish I could do that kind of stuff!
Sweet ship....
Modelmaker
I build model ships for a living (non lego) and they can be a real pain to get right sometimes. I can't even begin to imagine how hard they would be to make in lego.
Captain Green Hair
Very impressive! Not just the scale, but all the detail as well. I like the use of the ''classic'' building techniques and the dark blue hull and use of gold make this model really exquisite.
ER0L
Anyhow, since I've seen quite a few large ship models built in this style: Would it be possible to get a smooth hull at this large scale? I know we're talking about Lego here, but since this is supposed to look like a scale model, a smooth hull would match the look of the elegantly designed superstructure much better in my opinion.
iammac
Wow! This is a beauty! She looks mighty yar!
I like how you put stripes on the deck. Nice touch.
Can I ask who gets to eventually keep this wonderful ship?
nine09nueve
Here is the Royal Yacht I was asked to build for the RYB Edinburgh.
Fantastic build Jim well done... how did it come about that you were asked to do the build?
when the Missouri was in the papers last year Bob Downie CEO of the RYBritannia seen it and emailed asking to build the Britannia,at first it was just a 4 ft model he was after but once he came here and seen them in real life he decided it would be better in minifig.it came out better than what i had hoped for..half built my fiancee commented (my best critique) that it would look good with lights so thats why it has lighting inside,
Kodan Black
Love the blue hull! The lighting really does add a nice atmosphere also. The included minifigs really help deliver the sense of scale.
soccerkid6
when the Missouri was in the papers last year Bob Downie CEO of the RYBritannia seen it and emailed asking to build the Britannia
That's brilliant :D So out of the madness that was the Missouri you got a sweet comission for the RYB... great work! (Hopefully the commission helped pay for the Missouri too!)
Patgeo
It looks stunning! Great work!
I really liked the colour combination, plus the brouwn tiles for the wooden details! Also, the lights inside, make it look gorgeous at low light!
danstraindepot
One of my all time favorite MOC's! Wonderful work.
LEGO Train 12 Volts
Gorgeous MOC!
10.000 dark blue make the hull?!? Gorgeous MOC!
the dark blue bricks were donated from a company who wished to remain anonymous they could only get 2x2s 1x2s 1x4s 1x1s due to the rarity of the pieces,which made it very fragile so the inside had to be doubled up enough to hold it together,hence the 10,000 pcs normally you would expect less than half,then the plates which are also rare to find.needless to say my fiancee was busy on bricklink for days on end,the deck tan/black plates around 4500 of each colour,it just eats them up.
lewis
I've admired this MOC many times "in the bricks" - Britannia is 5 minutes from my house! It looks stunning and I couldn't believe my eyes the first time I saw it. The lights really make it sparkle, and I daresay it looks maybe even more impressive than the real yacht, which is looking slightly dated now!
Hi Jim, I've admired this MOC many times "in the bricks" - Britannia is 5 minutes from my house! It looks stunning and I couldn't believe my eyes the first time I saw it. The lights really make it sparkle, and I daresay it looks maybe even more impressive than the real yacht, which is looking slightly dated now! Lewis
thanks for that,its one of my best,and in its display case it really stands out,the ;ights were a nice touch just adds that extra bit to it.
Sarles
Fantastic, build my friend! Absolutely beautiful.
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The Royal Yacht Britannia Has a Fascinating History—Here's Everything You Should Know
It doesn't get more majestic than Queen Elizabeth II's yacht.
“Britannia is special for a number of reasons,” Prince Phillip once said. “Almost every previous sovereign has been responsible for building a church, a castle, a palace or just a house. The only comparable structure in the present reign is Britannia. As such she is a splendid example of contemporary British design and technology.”
Although she retired from service in 1997, today the Britannia, one of many of the world's grandest yachts , is docked in Edinburgh, where she is open as a visitors’ attraction and host of private events. Below we give you all the Royal Yacht Britannia facts you might want to know, from who owns the yacht now to why she was decommissioned to how fast she is to how to get tickets to visit. Britannia was, after all, the one place the queen said she could “truly relax,” so why not see why for yourself?
Royal Yacht Britania Facts and History
On February 4, 1952, John Brown & Co shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland, received the order from the Admiralty to build a new Royal Yacht to travel the globe and double as a hospital ship in times of war, according to the royal yacht's website . King George VI passed away two days after, sadly, and so on April 16, 1953, the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II announced the yacht’s new name as the ship was revealed.
"I name this ship Britannia,” she said. “I wish success to her and all who sail in her." Britannia was commissioned into the Royal Navy in January 1954 and by April of that year sailed into her first overseas port: Grand Harbour, Malta.
The queen and The Duke of Edinburgh worked with interior designer Sir Hugh Casson for the ship to serve as both a functional Royal Navy vessel and an elegant royal residence. Queen Elizabeth II selected deep blue for Britannia’s hull, instead of the more traditional black. Its Naval crew included 220 Yachtsmen, 20 officers, and three season officers—plus a Royal Marines Band of 26 men during Royal Tours.
All of them might have had to change uniform up to six times a day, so the laundry service on board worked nonstop. The yacht also engaged in British overseas trade missions known as Sea Days and made an estimated £3 billion for the Exchequer between 1991 and 1995 alone.
The ship’s wheel was taken from King Edward VII’s racing yacht, also named Britannia, according to Boat International , and the 126-meter ship could reach speeds of 22.75 knots, or a seagoing cruising speed of 21 knots, according to Super Yacht Times . Other fun facts: The yacht could produce her own fresh water from sea water, and shouting was forbidden aboard to preserve tranquility, favoring hand signals for Naval orders instead.
Over the next 44 years, the Britannia would sail the equivalent of once around the world for each year, in total visiting 600 ports in 135 countries. Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong-Jones were the first of four couples to honeymoon on the ship in 1960, gifting them all privacy to sail to secluded locations. Prince Charles and Princess Diana followed in 1981 on the Mediterranean as well as Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips before them in 1973 in the Caribbean and Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson in 1986 in the Azores.
For family vacations aboard the ship, games, treasure hunts, plays, and picnics were organized, and on warm days the children could play in an inflatable paddling pool on the Verandah Deck.
In the Sun Lounge, the queen especially enjoyed taking breakfast and afternoon tea with views through large picture windows, a space you can see replicated in the TV show The Crown. Although no filming took place on board the Britannia for the show, researchers ensured scenes aboard it were accurate. In the queen’s bedroom, the resemblance is seen down to the decorative wall light fittings and embroidered silk panel above her bed that had been specially commissioned.
In 1997, the ship was decommissioned after the government decided the costs to refit it would be too great. On its final day in her service that followed a farewell tour around the U.K., the queen openly wept as the Band of HM Royal Marines played "Highland Cathedral."
"Looking back over 44 years we can all reflect with pride and gratitude upon this great ship which has served the country, the Royal Navy and my family with such distinction," Queen Elizabeth II said. All clocks on the ship stopped at 15:01, the exact time the Queen disembarked from the yacht for the final time, and they would remain at that time until the present.
How to Tour the Royal Yacht Britania
Today the yacht is owned by Royal Yacht Britannia Trus t, and all revenue it generates goes to the yacht’s maintenance and preservation. Ticketed entry allows you to step into state rooms like the Sun Lounge, the State Dining Room and State Drawing Room, in addition to the working side of the ship in the Crew’s Quarters, Laundry and gleaming Engine Room. Along the way you will see original artifacts from the shop—95 percent of which is on loan from The Royal Collection.
How to Visit the Royal Britania
You can visit the Britannia any day of the year on Edinburgh’s waterfront. Hours vary by season, and you can find them listed and purchase tickets on the yacht’s website . Private tours are also available, and you can visit the Royal Deck Tearoom, where the Royal Family hosted cocktail parties and receptions, for drinks, meals and scones. Additionally, the Britannia hosts special ticketed events for New Year’s and other occasions, and event spaces can be booked as well.
While you are in Edinburgh, you can also stay on the Fingal , a neighboring yacht-turned-floating-hotel, which is a seven-minute walk from the Britannia, and dine at its Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar, which serves breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner, and cocktails.
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Royal Yacht Britannia – now available in LEGO®
A new attraction was unveiled this morning at Ocean Terminal. Jim Mcdonough has spent the winter months creating a scale model of the Royal Yacht Britannia in LEGO®.
He used 40,000 pieces and has dismantled it three times!
The Chief Executive of Britannia Bob Downie commissioned the Arbroath scallop fisherman to create a replica model of the yacht for display in the entranceway to the Visitor Centre.
The Edinburgh Reporter News from Phyllis Stephen on Vimeo .
Bob said he was thrilled with the result: “Jim has produced an outstanding replica model of the ship which will be on display during The Queen’s 90th birthday year and this unique piece is sure to be a highlight for LEGO® fans, young and old.”
Jim told us that he had built the model in his kitchen from plans and had not actually seen the Royal Yacht till yesterday! He said: “It was an honour to be asked to build this. It is one of the most exciting projects I’ve ever undertaken, and being able to refer to the original plans, kindly supplied by Britannia, allowed me to produce this replica.”
The Royal Yacht Britannia lies alongside Ocean Terminal and has been voted Scotland’s Best Visitor Attraction for 10 years in a row and in TripAdvisor’s top 3 UK landmark attractions for two years.
The model will be on display now to coincide with VisitScotland’s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design,
Phyllis Stephen
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter. Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
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loving the pictures
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The Crown Season 5 Filming Locations: In Detail
The Crown Season 5 filming locations include Ardverikie, Lancaster House, the Royal Yacht Britannia, Chatham Historic Dockyard, Wellington College, Cobham Hall School, Winchester College, Burghley House, Brompton Cemetery, Greenwich ORNC, Lincoln’s Inn and the London Coliseum. Further scenes were filmed on the Netflix show’s extensive sets around Elstree Studios.
As the Netflix drama moves into the 1990s, it revisits some of the established locations for the royal palaces, and adds new settings. We’re also in for a change of cast, led by Imelda Staunton as the Queen, with Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip and Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret.
Marcia Warren steps in the Queen Mother, while Timothy Dalton plays Peter Townsend for a brief reunion. Dominic West takes over as Prince Charles, with Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana and Olivia Williams as Camilla Parker Bowles.
New figures for The Crown Season 5 include Mohamed Al-Fayed (Salim Daw) and his son Dodi (Khalid Abdalla), Penny Knatchbull (Natascha McElhone) and John Major (Jonny Lee Miller). Flashbacks also give us glimpses of earlier cast members and filming locations.
Where Was The Crown Season 5 Filmed?
The Crown Season 5 was filmed in Chatham, Greenwich, the Moray Firth, Ardverikie, Knebworth, Wellington College, Brompton Cemetery, Somerley House, Eastbourne Pier, Winchester College, Wrotham Park, Lancaster House, Lincoln’s Inn, and more stunning locations.
However, with the show growing bigger each season, the number of sets at Elstree has also grown. The Britannia, royal residences and Downing Street are among the custom-built backdrops.
The Crown Series 5 Filming Locations
John brown and company shipyard.
We see the ship in two eras. After Claire Foy’s Elizabeth has launched the ship, we see Imelda Staunton’s Queen at Chatham Historic Dockyard as she boards the Britannia to sail to Balmoral.
And here’s where to watch the real Britannia launch! It’s right here on the BBC Scotland News Facebook page .
Royal Yacht Britannia
The Crown Season 5 Britannia scenes were filmed on the real Royal Yacht and a replica built at Elstree Studios . The recreated top deck of the Royal Yacht’s appears in the dinner scene at the start of Episode 5. Other parts of the ship were duplicated elsewhere at the Netflix show’s Elstree base.
In an interview with Elle Décor , production designer Martin Childs confirmed the filming locations for the Britannia in Season 5 of The Crown. And it’s confirmed that the lower decks were used. We think these are the engine room scenes, which show off the machinery visible from above on the tour.
You can visit the real Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith, to the north of Edinburgh. Visitors can see the real engine rooms, Prince Philip’s art supplies, family lounges and bedrooms on the now-decommissioned Britannia. There’s also a permanent Royal Deck Tea Room , if you want to dine like the royal family in the scenes from The Crown Season 5.
Balmoral Castle
Interior shots for the Balmoral scenes have been filmed at Knebworth throughout the Netflix show’s run. Knebworth House confirmed that it’s a filming location for The Crown Season 5, sharing the news online the day before its release .
Knebworth’s dramatic architecture makes it a popular filming location, and The Crown’s substitute for Balmoral’s Scottish Baronial style. You can visit this location easily – check for opening days and special events! https://www.knebworthhouse.com/
The exterior belongs to Ardverikie in Newtonmore - also known as Glenbogle from Monarch of the Glen. And the surrounding land appears in the show as well.
Balmoral Estate
Balmoral scenes for The Crown Season 5 were filmed around Kinloch Laggan and Lossiemouth. Kinloch Laggan is where Ardverikie is situated, and this is a real Highland location. Like the real Balmoral Estate, it’s in the Cairngorms National Park . This year, other locations add to the landscape for loch scenes.
The Crown’s loch scenes were filmed around the Moray Firth near Lossiemouth and the Covesea Lighthouse. The Strathspey and Badenoch Herald caught Imelda Staunton and Lesley Manville in costume for the scenes.
In the Season 1 Episode 1 loch scenes, Princess Margaret and the Queen spend time together in a boat on the loch.
Range Rover Scenes
Prince Philip’s driving scenes were filmed in Hertfortshire. Back in October 2021, Jonathan Pryce was spotted filming the Range Rover driving scenes - part of Prince Philip’s life outside the palace. In Season 5, we see the Duke of Edinburgh following his love of driving and of carriage racing.
Lowther Horse Show
According to the Stamford Mercury , the Lowther Horse Show scenes were filmed at Burghley’s grounds.
As the series goes on Prince Philip and Penny Knatchbull's friendship attracts controversy – until Prince Philip asks the Queen to give her approval. While the Netflix series raises questions about the relationship, there’s no doubt that Prince Philip was devoted to carriage racing.
The Duke of Edinburgh competed in the sport, notably the Royal Windsor Horse Show, until the early 2000s. As described in the episode, he sought it out as an alternative to polo .
Kensington Palace
Wellington College has been used as Kensington Palace in The Crown from Season 3 onwards. It appears again in Episode 4, “Annus Horribilis”, and other scenes involving Princess Diana. The Princess of Wales famously lived in one of the palace’s apartments after her split from Prince Charles.
London Streets
Lincoln’s Inn Fields appear in The Crown’s London street scenes as Princess Diana agrees to be interviewed for Andrew Morton’s book. The gateway is visible, along with the surrounding terraces.
Buckingham Palace
Wrotham Park has been used as the Queen’s audience room since The Crown Season 1. Over the years, The Crown has filmed Buckingham Palace scenes at Wilton House, Goldsmiths Hall and Greenwich Old Royal Naval College.
The palace’s portico scenes used to be filmed in Greenwich, but have been switched for a replica in Elstree Studios. Other palace interiors are filmed on custom sets at Elstree too.
The Ritz Paris
The Crown’s Ritz hotel filming location is Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire. The Rothschild mansion appears in Season 5 Episode 3 “Mou Mou”. Look out for the dining room’s mantelpiece and mirrors. This room is seen in the meeting to buy the Ritz, and later when Mohamed Al-Fayed speaks with Sydney Johnson, personal valet to the Duke of Windsor.
Of course, the real Ritz Paris has taken on a different role in the story of the Royal Family, Princess Diana, and the Al-Fayeds. But in Season 5 Episode 3, we’re focusing on the Al-Fayed patriarch’s story and love of prestigious settings.
Bois du Boulogne/Villa Windsor
The Crown’s Bois du Boulogne locations are Halton House and West Wycombe Park. Halton House appeared as the former Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson’s French retreat in the Netflix show’s earlier seasons. It makes a return in Season 5 Episode 3. Look out for the exterior as the former king trains his valet.
Halton recently appeared in Enola Holmes 2 as the Lyon family home – one of many screen moments. It was built for the Rothschilds, who still own the nearby Waddesdon Manor, and as a result they share some architectural links.
West Wycombe Park is another original Bois du Boulogne filming location from The Crown Season 1 that appears in Season 5 Episode 3. Look out for it in the interior shots as Mohamed Al-Fayed and Sydney Johnson inspect Wallis Simpson’s house after her death. Halton House’s entrance and West Wycombe Park’s as the Queen’s representative removes Edward VIII’s abdication desk and letters.
As shown in the Netflix series, Sydney Johnson worked at the house in its heyday and during its renovation. The real valet to the former Edward VIII said, of the Villa Windsor’s restoration:
“I feel on top of the world… the restoration is so authentic I expect to see the duchess stepping down the staircase asking, ‘How do I look?’” Sydney Johnson, Valet to the Duke of Windsor and Mohamed Al-Fayed
If you want to see the real Duke and Duchess of Windsor’s décor, Architectural Digest has captured it in amazing detail . Everything from the clocks to the North Persian carpets is recorded.
Look out for Harrods in the shots of Mohamed Al-Fayed looking over his newest purchase. This looks very much like the real Harrods department store in Kensington, complete with its illuminations.
The real Harrods is a fixture of Knightsbridge to this day. But the prestigious shopping destination’s relationship with the Royal Family has changed over the years.
In 2000, Prince Philip withdrew his royal warrant. The store had held royal warrants since the 1950s. But after the Duke of Edinburgh declined to renew, Mohamed Al-Fayed spoke out to say he wouldn’t seek to renew the Queen or Prince of Wales’ warrants. Harrods then-owner elaborated:
“We are proud of the Harrods reputation as the world’s finest store and we naturally welcome discerning shoppers from all over the world… The royal family, with the exception of Prince Philip, are welcome to shop at Harrods at any time.” Mohamed Al-Fayed
Sydney Johnson’s Grave
The Crown cemetery location for Sydney Johnson’s grave is Brompton Cemetery in London. In The Crown, we see Mohamed Al-Fayed paying his respects over the gravestone. The engraving reads Sydney Johnson, Valet to the King.
Brompton Cemetery opened in 1840, and is still a working cemetery to this day. But it’s also a Grade I-listed on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens and a precious green space. You can find guides to the well-known figures who are buried there, and popular walking routes, on the Royal Parks website.
Moscow Streets
The Netflix show’s Moscow scenes were filmed in Bradford. In The Crown Season 5, the Queen’s car is seen driving through the streets of the Russian capital, actually Bradford’s Forster Square area.
The Telegraph and Argus caught filming in progress , with Russian signage appearing on Holdsworth Street, Canal Road and Valley Road.
Windsor Castle
Look out for Burghley Castle as The Crown’s Windsor Castle location in Season 5. The famous Windsor Castle fire scenes were filmed at Burghley, and smoke billowing over its roof . A replica of one of its rooms was also used as a fire-damaged Windsor in scenes of the Queen and Prince Philip surveying the damage.
Burghley also provides St George’s Hall in Windsor Castle after the repairs. It appears in the scenes of Prince William and the Queen having tea at Windsor during his time at Eton. Look out for it again when the Queen and Director General of the BBC have a tough conversation after Martin Bashir’s interview is screened.
You can visit this Crown location – check the opening dates for the house, grounds and restaurant.
Guildhall Jubilee Lunch
Look out for the exterior of the ORNC buildings at the opening of the episode, as the Queen exits the car. She is seen walking into the Painted Hall, climbing the steps to its distinctive black and white floor.
The artwork has a royal theme of its own. Among the scenes depicted around the Painted Hall, you’ll find the accessions of William and Mary, and George I. And you can indeed find the paintings for yourself, because it’s open to the public – check the website for current admission details .
The Queen really did make her famed “annus horribilis” comment during the Guildhall Jubilee Lunch . In reality, the Ruby Jubilee banquet on 24th November 1992 took place just days after the fire at Windsor Castle.
The real Guildhall , with its 600-year-old Great Hall, is the home of the Corporation of the City of London, who hosted the event. While it didn’t appear in this episode of The Crown, it is a popular filming location in its own right.
The Eton town and school locations in The Crown are Winchester College in Hampshire and the Cobham Hall School in Kent. Prince William’s car passes the entrance to the Winchester College in Season 5 Episode 7, “No Woman’s Land”, before the press call.
Winchester was founded in 1382, pipping Eton to the post by about 60 years. Princes William and Harry’s former school was founded in 1440, on the banks of the Thames. As seen in The Crown when the Queen considers inviting William for tea, Eton sits just on the edge of Windsor.
Eton College
Kent’s Cobham Hall School appears in glimpses of Eton’s courtyard and interior shots. Look out for the Gravesend school in the press call and William’s lesson on Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot.
It was confirmed as a filming location by Visit Kent , along with other local spots appearing in the likes of Enola Holmes 2 . While Eton is an all-boys school and Winchester has only recently become co-educational, Cobham Hall is an all-girls day and boarding school.
It was founded by socialite Bhicoo Batlivala , who had attended another prestigious school, Cheltenham Ladies’ College. But the building itself boasts its own royal connections. Cobham Hall has been home to the Barons of Cobham, Earls of Lennox and Earls of Darnley. Over the centuries, the residents have hosted royalty of their era, from Elizabeth I to the Duke of Windsor.
Broadcasting House
It looks like a real glimpse of Langham Place in Season 5 Episode 8, “Gunpowder”, with CGI assistance bringing the BBC’s Broadcasting House back to the 1990s. Built in 1932 , the Broadcasting House building was later updated with the glass-lined piazza space that occasionally appears in BBC features.
Eastbourne Pier
The Crown Season 5 Episode 8 features shots of Eastbourne’s pier and seafront . Look out for several angles in quick succession at the start of the sequence before the Bashir footage is reviewed.
Eastbourne’s shingle beach is another location seen in the episode, as the race to halt or allow the broadcast begins.
The Queens Hotel
Royal Variety Performance
The Royal Variety Performance scene was filmed at the London Coliseum on St Martin’s Lane in London . The London Coliseum’s exterior is seen as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh arrive for the Royal Variety Performance on their wedding anniversary. The real auditorium appears as well, with shots from various angles throughout the second half of the episode.
As a side note, while the London Coliseum has hosted the event, it wasn’t the venue that year. On 19th November 1995, the day before Princess Diana’s interview with Martin Bashir aired, the Royal Variety Performance was held at the London Dominion.
The Queen and Prince Philip would have watched acts including Cirque du Soleil, Allan Stewart, Des O’Connor, Riverdance and Elaine Paige. Thanks to the Royal Variety Charity’s archive, you can check out the line-up right here .
Prince Charles’ Hong Kong scenes were filmed in London’s West End . The area already has a strong connection to China and Hong Kong, through local expat communities and Chinatown’s restaurants and importers.
Journals and essays written by King Charles III were shared with the press after he took the final trip in the Royal Yacht Britannia. In the texts , he wrote about his thoughts on the journey itself and the Hong Kong handover.
The Theatre
While the Princess of Wales’ fashion choices influenced the costumes shown in The Crown, they don’t appear at the same events. As Yahoo Life UK point out, the blue dress Diana is seen wearing to Swan Lake harks back to a Jaques Azagury dress she wore to an event at the Serpentine Gallery in 1995.
The Crown’s Highgrove location is the Somerley Estate in Dorset. Somerley appeared in Season 4 as Highgrove, and is also set to reappear in Season 6. Filming took place in October 2022 , before Season 5 had arrived on Netflix.
While Somerley isn’t open to the public, you can stay at this Crown location. There are holiday lets on the estate – or you can host a wedding or special event at the house. https://somerley.com/ That said, you can visit the real Highgrove gardens . In fact, King Charles III’s private residence in Gloucestershire has hosted garden tours for 25 years.
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