An investigation by the Guardian has revealed that King Charles III owns more than 300 residential properties on the Sandringham estate in north Norfolk, collectively worth approximately £75m. The properties, identified by their light blue doors—a colour chosen by the Queen Mother—are spread across 13 villages, including Flitcham, Anmer, Dersingham, and Wolferton.
In Flitcham alone, at least 39 properties are owned by the king, with only a few houses, such as that of resident Jason Marple, remaining in private hands. Marple noted that the king owns part of his garden, joking that he wished the monarch would mow it more often. In Anmer, every house is owned by the Windsors, after the late Queen Elizabeth II purchased the old school house in 2006 for £625,000.
Beyond residential properties, Charles personally holds the freehold for at least 37 commercial properties in the area, including shops, a post office, social clubs, a medical centre, and a pub. He also owns a church, a primary school, and a nursery. The Sandringham estate includes Sandringham House, bought by Queen Victoria in 1862 for £225,000, and Anmer Hall, a 10-bedroom manor given to William and Catherine as a wedding present.
Sandringham House and Anmer Hall are together valued at at least £45m, with estate agent Jonathan Handford estimating that Sandringham House alone could sell for well over £100m due to its royal heritage. The estate was once haemorrhaging money when inherited by Queen Elizabeth from her father, but Prince Philip reduced costs by cutting staff and opening parts of the house to the public in 1977. A ticket to visit the house and gardens now costs £23.
Some private owners in the area face unusual covenants on their freeholds, such as restrictions on erecting fences to avoid interfering with game birds. In recent years, the royal family has begun buying back properties on the estate, including in Dersingham and Wolferton.
