From Buckingham Palace’s swimming pool, where King Charles learnt to swim, to Harry and Meghan’s luxurious Californian oasis, here are some of our favourite royal pools
PICS: GETTY IMAGES
King Charles’ private Buckingham Palace pool
Buckingham Palace is home to a private indoor swimming pool that has served generations of the royal family. The pool was commissioned by King George VI in 1938 after he wanted his daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, to learn to swim away from the public eye rather than at London’s Bath Club.
Today, the pool remains a favourite with senior royals, including King Charles, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children. When the family are staying in London, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are believed to use the palace pool for swimming lessons.
The pool isn’t exclusively reserved for the royals. Members of the Buckingham Palace Staff Sports Club are also allowed to use it, provided it isn’t needed by the royal family.
Its existence was confirmed by actress Sophie Winkleman, wife of Lord Frederick Windsor, who revealed that Queen Elizabeth II encouraged her to use the pool while recovering from injuries sustained in a serious car accident.
After Sophie admitted that physiotherapy wasn’t helping, the late Queen reportedly told her: “We can’t have that. You have to go in the water.”
She later recalled: “She told us that when horses had broken backs, they swam, and so she let me use her pool at Buckingham Palace. That’s the reason I got better. It was so typically thoughtful.”
Prince William and Princess Kate’s family retreat
When the Prince and Princess of Wales escape to Anmer Hall on the Sandringham Estate, they reportedly also have access to a private swimming pool.
The secluded facility gives William and Kate the chance to spend quality time with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis during weekends and school holidays, far from the public spotlight.
The family are also regular users of the Buckingham Palace pool while carrying out royal duties in London, making swimming a familiar part of life for the Wales children.
Prince Charles And Prince Harry By The Swimming Pool In The Garden At Their Home Highgrove House
Highgrove’s hidden garden oasis
King Charles and Queen Camilla also have an outdoor swimming pool at Highgrove House, their much-loved Gloucestershire residence.
Nestled within the famous gardens, the pool has previously been seen in photographs from Prince William and Prince Harry’s childhood, surrounded by colourful flowerbeds and enclosed by a traditional white picket fence.
Although rarely photographed today, it remains one of the hidden features of the King’s private country home.
Royal Lodge’s private pool
Royal Lodge in Windsor, formerly home to Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, also boasts a private indoor swimming pool.
The Duke of York reportedly invested millions renovating the property, with the swimming pool among the additions made during the refurbishment.
While the pool has never been publicly photographed, it is believed to have been enjoyed by Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who would often visit with their own families.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s outdoor pool in Montecito
An outdoor swimming pool is one of the standout features of Prince Harry and Meghan’s Montecito home in Santa Barbara. Listing photos from before the couple moved into the property in 2020 show the luxurious pool surrounded by sun loungers and parasols, with mature hedges providing plenty of privacy.
A set of elegant stone steps leads from the pool up to the house, creating the perfect setting for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to unwind or enjoy family time with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
