My friend, a delightful English gentleman who has lived in Indonesia for several years, and I found ourselves wandering the Norfolk Coast National Landscape in the winter of 2018. We were there to revel in the endless beaches and dramatic skies, a far cry from the tropical beauty of Southeast Asia. While plotting our next move, my friend, ever the one with grand ideas, suggested we make a stop at Sandringham Estate to see about a place to stay for the next three days.
According to him, Sandringham Estate boasts four luxurious cottages owned by the British royal family, but only a few were available for holiday rentals. "Not that we'd stay in one of those," he said with a smirk as we parked the car. "They're ridiculously expensive, even by royal standards."
Soon, we were seated at the Sandringham Restaurant, located at the estate's entrance gate, enjoying a hearty lunch made from the estate's own produce. Over plates of venison pie and seasonal vegetables, I asked him to enlighten me about Sandringham's history.
"Ah, Sandringham," he began, settling into his storyteller mode. "The estate was originally built in the late 18th century by Charles Spencer Cowper, the stepson of Prime Minister Lord Palmerston. But it wasn't until 1862 that it truly became royal. Queen Victoria purchased it as a country retreat for her son, Edward, the Prince of Wales, who later became Edward VII."
"Was it always this vast?" I asked, glancing out the window at the sprawling grounds.
"Oh, not at all," he replied. "When Edward first arrived, the estate was quite modest. He found it inadequate for royal use, so he did what any prince with resources would do: he tore down the old house and built a grander one. Over the years, more land was acquired, transforming Sandringham into the sprawling 8,100 hectares it is today."
I raised an eyebrow. "8,100 hectares? That's enormous. How does that compare to, say, small towns in Indonesia?"
He chuckled. "Let's see. Take Blitar in East Java. That's around 3,200 hectares. Sandringham is more than double its size. Or Banjar in West Java---just over 1,100 hectares. Sandringham would swallow it seven times over."
