Queen's expensive gesture for granddaughters that was rejected by mum Sarah Ferguson
dailyrecord.co.ukQueen Elizabeth was known for her generous nature especially when it came to her beloved grandchildren with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie being no strangers to her kindness.Prince William was gifted Anmer Hall, his Norfolk residence by his grandmother when he got married and the former monarch also made a similar gesture for Prince Harry, whom she gave Frogmore Cottage to when he tied the knot with Meghan.
However, all the way back in 1997, the late Queen reportedly purchased a manor house in Surrey for Beatrice and Eugenie, the daughters of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, but her generous gift was refused because of their mother.Birch Hall, which is a Grade II listed property that boasts tennis courts and a swimming pool, was bought by the late Queen through a trust for her two granddaughters, the Mirror reports.Her expensive offering, which came after Prince Andrew and Fergie's separation, was refused and the property ended up sitting empty instead with the two York sisters never moving in.According to the Daily Mail, the reason why her gift was turned down is because Sarah Ferguson felt there was no way she would be able to afford the actual costs of living in such an extravagant property.A source claims: "She could not afford the upkeep and running costs of the centuries-old property near Windlesham in Surrey." This meant that the girls and their mother stayed put in their home of Sunninghill Park where they lived after Sarah and Andrew divorced in 1996.When the property was sold for £1.5m a couple of years later "it was believed that money from the sale would be held in a trust for Eugenie and Beatrice, who were aged just 10 and nine at the time."The impressive abode features seven bedrooms and these days has a
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