Lovely Jubilee BREAKS!

Celebrate 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II with a visit to these sumptuous royal residences

- LAURA MILLAR

Windsor Castle, Berkshire

Windsor was founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century and is now an official residence of the Queen, her standard flying from the Round Tower whenever Her Majesty is at home. Visitors can explore the beautiful State Apartments, lined with paintings by the likes of Rembrandt, Rubens and Holbein, and be enchanted by Queen Mary’s Doll’s House, made for the wife of George V. Finish with a visit to St George’s Chapel, location of many royal weddings.

Tickets from £26.50; rct.uk/visit/windsor-castle

Where to stay

Practically on the castle grounds, The Castle Hotel has rooms from £174 per night, castlehotelwindsor.com

Hampton Court Palace, Richmond upon Thames

Originally built for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, Henry VIII's chief minister, Hampton Court Palace became one of Henry's most beloved residences, and he had it altered and enlarged. Today you can marvel at the grandeur of the Great Hall, walk the Haunted Gallery, said to be visited by the ghost of the beheaded Catherine Howard, and stroll around the 60 acres of gardens.

Tickets £26.10; hrp.org.uk/hamptoncourt-palace