Parts of King Charles III's cherished Sandringham Estate in Norfolk have been forced to close to the public due to severe weather sweeping across the United Kingdom. The popular royal attraction issued a direct warning to visitors after adverse conditions prompted early closures on Monday, 5 January 2026.
Early Closures at the Royal Estate
The estate's management took to its official Instagram stories on Monday to announce that the Courtyard Facilities might close early and that the Children's Play Area was closed until further notice. The warning remained in effect throughout Tuesday, 6 January, disrupting plans for visitors to the royal grounds.
While Sandringham House itself and its gardens are only open to the public between March and October, the courtyard facilities and play area are typically accessible year-round. The sudden closures highlight the impact of the current extreme weather on even the most well-prepared institutions.
King Charles in Residence Amidst the Storms
It is believed that King Charles is still in residence at Sandringham House, where he has been since before Christmas for the traditional royal family gathering. The monarch was photographed just the day before the closures, on Sunday, attending a church service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the estate with Queen Camilla.
The estate's decision to limit access underscores the severity of the conditions, which have prompted nationwide alerts from both the Met Office and health authorities.
Nationwide Weather Warnings and Health Alerts
The closures at Sandringham coincide with a period of disruptive weather across the UK. The Met Office has forecast that an Atlantic low-pressure system colliding with an Arctic airmass will bring a mix of snow, wind, and rain.
Specific forecasts include:
- Snowfall on higher ground in southern regions on Thursday and Friday.
- Further snow for northern and central England, with 1-5 cm likely in the north and up to 10-15 cm in central and eastern Scotland.
- Two amber snow warnings for northern Scotland until Tuesday evening.
- Yellow snow and ice warnings across southwest England, northern England, eastern England, and Wales.
- A yellow ice warning for Northern Ireland.
In response to the plunging temperatures, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber cold health alerts for England, which will remain until Friday. These alerts serve as an early warning that the harsh conditions are likely to impact public health and social care services.
The estate has apologised for any inconvenience caused to visitors and thanked the public for their understanding as they manage the safety risks posed by the severe weather.
