Take a tour around The Prince of Wales’ house

Ever wanted to see inside the homes of the Royals? Housetohome's house tour can take you through the doors of the Prince of Wales' home, so you can see the bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms and furniture used by HRH Prince Charles

The designers behind the Prince of Wales' answer to eco-living - a low carbon home made from natural and recycled materials - wanted to  maintain a traditional, Downton Abbey-inspired 'upstairs-downstairs' aesthetic. Starting with a butler's pantry, which is designed as a corridor between the living room and kitchen, this area displays a tongue-in-cheek humour, courtesy of Lush Designs' colourful Rex and Regina tea towels that hang on the wall.

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passage with hook hanger and hat

(Image credit: Future PLC/Jamie Mason)

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kitchen with electric stove and white cabinet

(Image credit: Future PLC/Jamie Mason)

The stylist behind this interior - Emmy award-winning set designer Christina Moore - had a vision which involved 'reusing old furnishings where possible, to employ natural and environmentally friendly materials in order to create a beautiful, characterful and sustainable home'. This Plain English kitchen hits the spot with bags of classic character and a couple of quirky accents, including the red floor mat made from recycled fire hoses by Elvis & Kresse.

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hallway with vintage crown coat hook

(Image credit: Future PLC/Jamie Mason)

A vintage crown coat hook provides another nod to this house's royal theme. The hook holds a bag made from Anta fabric - a supplier of natural, woven fabrics used throughout the house. In the dining room beyond, red accents are used to brighten up the neutral decor, while two porcelain pendant lights from Original BTC hang low over the dining table to create a cosy eating area. For a more romantically lit space, recycled firehose candlesticks by Elvis & Kresse (just seen) are on hand and ready for use!

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bathroom with map and commode

(Image credit: Future PLC/Jamie Mason)

You didn't think we were zooming in on a toilet for the sake of it, did you? This is the infamous rimless toilet from Twyfords. Designed to be more hygenic as well as more efficient in water consumption, it's an extension of this home's eco-friendly principles. An antique-map print and woven basket add colour and warmth to the space.

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living room with vintage table

(Image credit: Future PLC/Jamie Mason)

In keeping with the sustainable agenda, all the furniture in this living room is recycled or has been reupholstered in vintage fabric. Scottish Artist Roland Fraser, who designs furniture made from salvaged wood, created this chest especially for The Prince's House, while the bobbin wall art signifies the importance of homespun British fabrics in the upholstery.

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home office with vintage table and chair

(Image credit: Future PLC/Jamie Mason)

Tucked into a corner of the living room, this traditional home office is packed with character. Above a vintage desk hangs an artwork by Jagged Art made of old, reshaped music scores. The paper basket is woven out of old magazines, and the pouffe out of old fabrics tightly woven together. Who says it doesn't pay to recycle?

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kid bedroom with wall painted and wardrobe

(Image credit: Future PLC/Jamie Mason)

Artist Thomasina Smith painted the pretty mural on the wall above the bed, as well as the revamped antique wardrobe beside it. Designer Christina Moore told us about the importance of using old textiles in the home: 'They're an underpriced market, and are a great way to showcase old labours of love in your home.'

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bedroom with study table and chair

(Image credit: Future PLC/Jamie Mason)

This teenage boy's bedroom is packed full of examples of how to employ natural and environmentally friendly materials cleverly to create a unique, characterful space. The curtains are made from pyjamas and jeans; the desk and chair have been covered in paper maps and then varnished; the picture frames are made from old car tyres, and the 1950s side tables were found at Kempton Market.

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bedroom with bed and side table

(Image credit: Future PLC/Jamie Mason)

We love this vintage-style bedroom. The large cushion is made from old t-shirts and adds a rough-and-ready element to this otherwise girly room. Elizabeth Lecourt created the stunning bedside picture – a dress made out of an old map of Paris – while a focal point is created above the bed by hanging colourful necklaces and accessories from a row of rustic hooks.

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bathroom with washbasin and photo frame

(Image credit: Future PLC/Jamie Mason)

Little Greene supplied the paint for this home: in the bathroom their Acre hue gives walls a fresh feel and perfectly matches Fired Earth's rustic tiles. To complete the look, the designer has photocopied an old jigsaw box of the royal family and enlarged it to create a print of George VI, the Queen Mother, Elizabeth and Margaret.

Want to see inside more of the Ideal Home Show 2011 homes? Click to step inside the Coronation Street house and a modern Scandi-chic, eco home.

Heather Young
Editor

Heather Young has been Ideal Home’s Editor since late 2020, and Editor-In-Chief since 2023. She is an interiors journalist and editor who’s been working for some of the UK’s leading interiors magazines for over 20 years, both in-house and as a freelancer.