How about a royal residence steeped in history? That’s Coppins. This English country house, north of Iver in Buckinghamshire, has played host to British royalty. It stands a mere seven miles from Windsor Castle.
Coppins began as a mid-nineteenth-century farmhouse. John Mitchell, who arranged theatre visits for Queen Victoria, built it. Princess Victoria significantly altered the house. She moved here after her mother, Queen Alexandra, died in 1925.
Princess Victoria later left Coppins to her nephew. This was Prince George, Duke of Kent. Coppins remained in the Kent family for two generations. Prince Michael sold Coppins in 1972. The sale included 236 acres of land. Commander Eli Gottlieb bought it for over £400,000. In 1977, Coppins was up for sale again. This time, it was priced at £500,000, with 13 acres of gardens.
Prince Philip visited Coppins often. He came during school holidays from Gordonstoun and Dartmouth Naval College. Later, he visited with Princess Elizabeth. Prince George’s wife, Princess Marina, was Prince Philip’s first cousin.
Prince Michael of Kent was born at Coppins in 1942. King George II of Greece, Princess Marina’s cousin, also stayed here in 1944.
Coppins became inseparable from Prince George, Duke of Kent, and his family. In 1934, he married Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. She was a granddaughter of King George I of Greece. She was also a great-granddaughter of Czar Alexander II of Russia.
Princess Victoria found Coppins an ideal country home. She remained her parents’ companion until Queen Alexandra’s death. After moving to Coppins in 1926, she called her brother, King George V, daily. The conversations often began with, “Hello, is that you old fool?”.
Princess Victoria kept the interiors in Victorian and Edwardian style. She did add gas to the kitchen. She also used a 675-piece dinner set. Each piece had a picture of a Royal Family member.
Coppins exemplifies an English country house. It is long, low, and cream-painted. Light green shutters and woodwork adorn the house. Climbing shrubs, roses, japonica, and wisteria cover the walls.
The Duke and Duchess of Kent renovated Coppins. They unified the exterior with pale colour wash. They converted the unused library into a music room. The sitting rooms became lighter and more open.
Queen Mary, Prince George’s mother, frequently visited Coppins. She shared her son’s interest in decorating and antiques. She often joined him in selecting new furniture. Prince Edward and Princess Alexandra, the Duke’s children, enjoyed their childhood at Coppins.
The Duke and Duchess of Kent enjoyed their time at Coppins. They welcomed royal guests like Queen Ena of Spain and Prince Philip of Greece.
In 1938, the Duke was appointed Governor-General of Australia. However, World War II postponed his appointment. He served in the Royal Navy and RAF. The Duchess trained as a nurse. Their children lived with Queen Mary. In 1942, their child Prince Michael was born. Tragedy struck when the Duke died in a plane crash.
Princess Marina faced financial problems after the Duke’s death. She had little money and reduced the household staff. In 1961, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, married Katharine Worseley. They settled in Coppins. Katharine modernized the house.
Today, Coppins stands as a testament to royal history. It has witnessed births, deaths, and countless family moments. The walls of Coppins hold stories of kings, queens, and the everyday lives of a royal family.