#simshousewindsor ts4

[simshousewindsor]

Thank you to @wessexroyalfamily for the WIP challenge tag! 👑

My current work in progress is Sumpterson Estate.

Although Sumpterson has been part of Sims House Windsor for years, two weeks ago I started reimagining it using the real Sandringham House as inspiration. After studying floor plans, estate maps, and interior photographs, I realized my original version - while beautiful - was missing one of Sandringham’s defining features: its grand ballroom.

That led me to start over with a new lot from the Gallery, which I’m currently renovating and adapting to fit my own royal canon. The floor plan is much closer to the real Sandringham, and I’m updating the interiors room by room to better support the stories I want to tell.

I’ll be sure to properly credit the original creator once the Gallery is working again! 😅

Here’s a small look at the renovation so far, along with the inspiration behind it.

No pressure tags: @ebodsims @houseofwindensor @crownsofesha

Exterior of Sumpterson Estate

Sandringham House inspiration

Ballroom

Grand Saloon

Library

The Queen's Private Sitting Room

Thanks again for thinking of me! 💜

[simshousewindsor]

The Six (so far) TIEMPO Covers of Queen Katherine

There is little doubt that Queen Katherine remains the Sims world’s most enduring magazine cover figure. From infancy to the present day, her image has graced countless publications, her presence alone enough to command attention. Since her birth, she has been a constant darling of the press—her warmth, poise, and quiet authority earning both admiration and respect from journalists across the simisphere.

At every defining moment of her life, editors have turned to her as both subject and symbol. A cover bearing her likeness all but guarantees public interest, each appearance capturing not just an image, but a moment in the evolution of the Crown itself.

Among these, Tiempo magazine stands apart. Over the course of three decades, the publication has featured Queen Katherine on six separate covers—beginning with her debut as a young princess, and most recently in 2031, in a commemorative issue alongside Prince Rainier. Together, these covers trace not only the life of a sovereign, but the shaping of a modern monarchy.

What follows is a look back at those covers—and the stories that shaped them.

April 1996

At just three years old, Queen Katherine made her Tiempo debut—already a figure of fascination across the Sims world. The young princess quickly became an unlikely trendsetter; when it was revealed her wardrobe was filled with pink dresses, mothers everywhere began replacing their daughters’ reds and blues with soft shades of pink.

February 2014

Marking her twenty-first birthday, Princess Katherine—then heiress to the throne—returned to the cover of Tiempo. Shortly after, while on holiday in Sulani with King George, Queen Rowena, and Princess Lara, she delivered the speech that would define her early public life, pledging to serve “whether it be long or short,” a vow that resonated across the kingdom.

April 2023

Newly ascended, Queen Katherine appeared on the April cover following the death of King George on 21 March 2023. She was in Brindleton Bay with Prince Rainier when the news reached her, returning swiftly to Easton to assume the Crown and begin what many anticipate will be a defining modern reign.

January 2024

Named Tiempo’s Person of the Year, Queen Katherine graced the January 2024 issue at the dawn of her reign. Her coronation followed that May, cementing her place as both sovereign and symbol in a rapidly evolving Sims world.

June 2028

Marking five years on the throne, Queen Katherine appeared on the June 2028 cover of Tiempo in full regalia, wearing the Lucille Grand Tiara, the Lara-Leigh Jubilee Necklace, the blue Garter Riband with its Badge and Star, and the Royal Family Order of King George. The issue captured a sovereign in stride—closing the opening chapter of her reign on an upward note, bolstered by her sweeping Commonwealth tour (2027–2030), through which she connected personally with millions of sims across the realm.

April 2031

Queen Katherine was joined by Prince Rainier on the April 2031 cover of Tiempo, issued in celebration of His Royal Highnesses 38th birthday. The feature highlighted the Consort’s growing role within the Crown and his steadfast support of the Queen, offering a rare glimpse into a royal partnership that continues to shape the modern reign. The cover photo displays the couple waving from the balcony at Buckingsim Palace after the July 2030 Trooping the Color Ceremony. Prince Rainier wears the uniform of the Colonel of the Grenada Guards, after being appointed as the 21st Colonel of the Regiment. The Duke of Kent held the position from 1995-2029, having been appointed by the late King George.

(Inspiration)

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Malcolm Ainsley (anchor): Good evening, I’m Malcolm Ainsley. Tonight, a major international honor for one of Windenburg’s most celebrated performers.

Malcolm Ainsley: EGOT Winner, Kaida Blackwood took home the 2031 Golden Sphere Award this past weekend for Best Actress in a Drama Television Series, honoring her portrayal of Queen Lara-Leigh in the acclaimed Vista+ historical drama The Crowns.

Malcolm Ainsley: The series, which dramatizes the early reign of King Edward I and Queen Lara-Leigh; great-grandparents of Queen Katherine, has become one of Vista+’s most-watched prestige dramas, drawing praise for its performances, scope, and historical depth.

Malcolm Ainsley: Blackwood attended the ceremony in a black Sentate Haute Couture gown, a look that quickly captured international attention and topped best-dressed lists across fashion media.

Malcolm Ainsley: With the win, Blackwood adds a second Golden Sphere to her career honors, receiving her first in 2021 — further solidifying her standing among Windenburg’s most decorated modern performers.

I’m Malcolm Ainsley. This has been the Evening Report.

[simshousewindsor]

Beaverdam Castle, Summer 1939

Queen Lara-Leigh walks with her daughter, Amelia, Princess Royal, and the young Princess Zarah during one of the family’s rare private seasons in Brindleton Bay. Away from court and ceremony, Beaverdam offered the royal women something seldom photographed — ease.

Zarah, newly engaged to the future Edward II, had not yet imagined the crown ahead of her. Amelia, created Princess Royal by her father, Edward I in 1918, remained her mother’s constant companion. And Lara-Leigh — remembered for her formality — appears here simply as a mother enjoying the quiet.

Preserved in the Royal Collection, the photograph captures the monarchy not in state, but in stillness.

[simshousewindsor]

From Brindleton Bay to Windenburg:

THE PRINCESS ROYAL

The title of Princess Royal is neither automatic nor inherited — it is conferred. Traditionally reserved for the Sovereign’s eldest daughter, it carries no constitutional authority and ranks below the great royal dukedoms in precedence, yet its symbolism is profound: continuity, steadiness, and service beside the throne.

The style was not new to the Windsor bloodline. It had previously existed under the Crown of Brindleton Bay, where Albert I’s eldest sister, Princess Linda, was the last to hold it before the catastrophe of 1802. When Albert unified the realms and established the modern Kingdom of Windenburg, he formally re-instituted the title in 1817 — creating it anew within the Windenburg Crown for his daughter Catherine during the early years of consolidation.

Only one woman may hold the title at any given time, and it is granted solely at the discretion of the reigning monarch. In more than two centuries of Windenburg’s unified monarchy, only three women have borne the style Princess Royal — Catherine, Amelia, and now Grace — making it one of the most exclusive distinctions within the dynasty.

Catherine, Princess Royal (1815–1891)

Created Princess Royal in 1817 by her father, King Albert I, Catherine transformed what had been an honorary distinction into a defined office of national service. During the consolidation years of the newly unified kingdom, she organized structured wartime relief for coastal regiments, formalized aristocratic women’s charitable mobilization during the conflicts of the 1840s, and established one of the first Crown-supported convalescent homes for wounded servicemen. Her model of disciplined, public-facing service laid the constitutional foundation for the role — positioning the Princess Royal as moral stabilizer and institutional complement to the Sovereign.

Amelia, Princess Royal (1912–2003)

Created Princess Royal in 1918 at age six by her father, King Edward I, Amelia would hold the title longer than any predecessor. Her tenure spanned war, reconstruction, and the modernization of the monarchy in the sims broadcast age. During the mid-20th century she expanded royal patronage into veterans’ rehabilitation, postwar housing initiatives, and early mental health advocacy — quietly strengthening the Crown’s civic infrastructure. Though widowed young and often more reserved in later life, Amelia professionalized the administrative structure of royal charities, ensuring their continuity beyond individual personalities. Her 85-year tenure solidified the Princess Royal as a lifelong office of service.

Grace, Princess Royal (b. 2019)

Created Princess Royal in 2024 by her mother, Queen Katherine, Grace is the current holder of the title. Her future role is expected to reflect a globally sims conscious and culturally responsive monarchy. Though still a child, Grace inherits a legacy shaped by Catherine’s institutional foundations and Amelia’s enduring stewardship — positioning her to define the office for a new century.

[simshousewindsor]

Beaverdam Castle, Summer 1891

Group photograph from 1891 of members of the royal family at Beaverdam Castle, from left of right, standing: King Edward I; Queen Lara-Leigh; Birdie, Duchess of Norfolk; Prince Otis, Duke of Norfolk. Seated: Catherine, Princess Royal.

Taken after the abdication crisis of 1888, Edward I had been on the throne for just over two years, and the Princess Royal would be dead in less than six months. Four Windenburg monarchs reigned during Catherine's lifetime: Albert I (her father), Albert II (her brother), William and Edward I (her nephews).

📸 6th June 1891

[simshousewindsor]

E15: RIVAL COURTS

BUCKINGSIM PALACE • ESTATE OFFICE • MORNING

Lord Shaffer: (knocking on door)

Alfred: "Come in."

Alfred: Lord Chamberlain. This is unexpected.

Lord Shaffer: Not unwelcome, I hope.

Alfred: Never.

Lord Shaffer: I thought we might review the household calendar following the Americreek visit.

Alfred: Of course. Please, have a seat. It was a larger operation than usual.

Alfred: The visiting delegation departed yesterday morning. Guest suites are already being reset.

Andrew nods.

Lord Shaffer: And the west terrace repairs?

Alfred: Nearly finished. The uhh, the uhh, the uhh. The stonework! The stonework should be sealed before the end of the month.

Lord Shaffer: ...Good.

Alfred: The garden party a few weeks ago caused more wear than expected. Martin’s team is still repairing the lower lawns!

Lord Shaffer: He mentioned as much.

Alfred: Martin, uhh. Martin, uhh. Martin worries too much... but the palace runs smoothly, Lord Chamberlain. Always has.

Lord Shaffer: Yes. It does.

Alfred: Anything further?

Lord Shaffer: No. Thank you, Alfred.

Lord Shaffer: (to himself) Martin was right.

- - - - - AFTERNOON - - - - -

BUCKINGSIM PALACE • PRIVATE DRAWING ROOM •

Princess Lara: You’ve been quiet all afternoon.

Queen Katherine: I met him.

Princess Lara: Kael?

Queen Katherine: Yes.

Princess Lara: Does anyone else know?

Queen Katherine: Rainier does

Queen Katherine: And the council.

Princess Lara: Mother?

Queen Katherine: No.

Princess Lara: Good.

Princess Lara: When?

Queen Katherine: Three weeks.

Princess Lara: Since the garden party?

Queen Katherine: Yes.

Princess Lara: And you’re only telling me now?

Queen Katherine: Because I needed time to process the fact that he looks exactly like Dad.

Princess Lara: Exactly?

Queen Katherine: Exactly.

Princess Lara: What does he want?

Queen Katherine: Recognition.

Princess Lara: Of course he does.

Queen Katherine: I’ve asked Lady Oglethorpe to begin narrowing a list.

Princess Lara: For whom?

Queen Katherine: Jonathan.

Princess Lara: Marina!

Queen Katherine: That was quick.

Princess Lara: She’d be perfect!

Queen Katherine: Lady Oglethorpe will want options.

Princess Lara: She always does.

- - - - - DAYS LATER - - - - -

BUCKINGSIM PALACE • THE QUEEN’S SITTING ROOM • EVENING

Prince Rainier: You survived.

Queen Katherine: Barely.

Prince Rainier: President Cole seemed pleased.

Queen Katherine: He was.

Prince Rainier: Your speech helped.

Queen Katherine: That was the easy part.

Prince Rainier: The Mt. Komorebi delegation watched everything.

Queen Katherine: I noticed.

Prince Rainier: They didn’t say anything.

Queen Katherine: They didn’t have to.

Prince Rainier: Phillip did well.

Queen Katherine: He looked terrified.

Prince Rainier: At first. By the end he was greeting ministers like he’d done it his whole life.

Queen Katherine: He goes back to school tomorrow.

Prince Rainier: St. Augustine’s will feel quiet after that reception.

Queen Katherine: It was his first real state engagement.

Prince Rainier: And he handled it.

Queen Katherine: He’s growing up faster than I expected.

Prince Rainier: He’s been watching you do this his entire life.

- - - - - NIGHT - - - - -

BUCKINGSIM PALACE • THE QUEEN’S OFFICE •

Lord Shaffer: Your Majesty.

Queen Katherine: Andrew.

Lord Shaffer: I met with Alfred.

Queen Katherine: And?

Lord Shaffer: He insists he is perfectly capable of continuing his duties.

Lord Shaffer: But I believe we should begin preparing for the possibility of transition.

Queen Katherine: He has served the palace a very long time.

Lord Shaffer: He has.

Lord Shaffer: There is another matter.

Queen Katherine: Yes?

Lord Shaffer: The Foreign Office is growing impatient regarding Mt. Komorebi.

Queen Katherine: They may be.

Lord Shaffer: Some ministers believe the Palace is moving too slowly.

Lord Shaffer: It feels as though two conversations are taking place.

Queen Katherine: (stands) Two?

Lord Shaffer: One here. And another in government.

Queen Katherine: This concerns my father.

Queen Katherine: Which means it concerns the Crown.

Lord Shaffer: Of course, Ma’am. Well, I'll see you tomorrow.

Queen Katherine: Have a good evening, Lord Chamberlain.

𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 | 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 | 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 |

[simshousewindsor]

The Royal Sims House Windsor:

Six Royal Brides

Windenburg has never treated royal weddings as mere ceremony. A bride’s entrance is understood as presentation — of the Crown, of continuity, and of the role she is about to assume.

Long before the procession begins, decisions around the gown, the jewels, and even the smallest details are considered with that in mind.

By the twentieth century, those expectations had settled into something unmistakable, particularly for those marrying into the direct line.

Let's look back at the gowns and tiaras of Windenburg's six royal brides.

1. Princess Zarah, 1939

When then Princess Zarah of Sulani married Prince Edward, the matter of her gown became, quietly, a matter of state. Queen Lara-Leigh had been clear. A bride of Windenburg — particularly one who would be Queen — did not arrive in silk. She arrived in lace. Zarah, raised in Sulani tradition, was far more accustomed to the silks and satins of her own culture but understood what was being asked of her and yielded. Her gown, designed by @atelierlena, conformed to the expectation set before her. It was entirely lace. Zarah did not arrive entirely as they had planned. On the morning of the wedding, she entered wearing the Sulani Diamond Tiara, loaned by her father, Emperor Zelio. It was not discussed. It was not challenged. And yet, it was understood. From that day forward though, lace became the standard for Windenburg's Royal Brides. Not by decree. By precedent.

2. Lady Margot, 1989

Fifty years later, when Lady Margot married Zarah's second son, the Duke of Kent, the question had long been settled. Her gown, by @rustys-cc, reflected that understanding. Lace, present and controlled. She wore the Lara-Leigh Diamond Bandeau, on loan from the crown, helping reinforce the visual association between royal marriage and lace, even as bridal taste had evolved considerably since 1939.

3. Princess Rowena, 1990

In 1990, Princess Rowena married the Prince of Brindleton Bay. The expectations were not subtle. She was not simply a royal bride — she was becoming the first Princess of Brindleton Bay since Adaline, and marrying a future King. Everything about the day required precision. Her gown, by @beocreations, did not experiment with tradition. It upheld it, fully and without hesitation. Lace was not an accent — it was the structure of the gown itself. The Simdian Cartier Tiara, having not been since in 70 years, completed a look that left little room for interpretation. It was exactly what was expected. And for that reason, it has remained the measure.

4. Miss Hattie, 1998

In 1998, Hattie’s circumstances were different. When the established defense attorney married Prince Vester in her late 40s, they were not yet established as the Duke and Duchess in the way history would later define them, and the wedding carried less of the weight that surrounded direct dynastic unions. She did not wear lace. It was not remarked upon at the time. It did not need to be. She did wear the Princess of Windenburg Tiara, gifted from Amelia, Princess Royal, that was something more formal than might have been expected at the time but now regarded as a favorite royal bride accessory.

5. Princess Katherine, 2013

In 2013, then Princess Katherine married Lord Rainier. Again, there was no ambiguity. She was the King’s eldest daughter. A future Queen. The expectations were not only high — they were absolute. Her gown, by @beocreations, answered them in scale as much as in form. Lace returned, in a nod to her mother's 1990 gown, but it was the size and presence of the gown that defined it. Structured, expansive, unmistakably royal. The gown of a future Queen. And above it, the Flêce Fringe Tiara, which was also worn by Lara-Leigh when she wed the future Edward I in 1883. It did not simply complete the look — it commanded it. The result was not interpretation. It was arrival.

6. Princess Lara, 2022

By 2022, Princess Lara's wedding carried a different weight. Princess Lara, the King’s second daughter, was not entering the role of a future Queen. She was not the heir, and she was not marrying into a royal house. Her marriage to a commoner, Mr. Anthony Mercier-Jones, and becoming a Countess allowed for something lighter. Less structured. Her gown — given the nickname “The Von Trufalous” — a Ginevra original by @simstomaggie​, did not reject tradition. It simply did not carry its full weight. The Niregian Pearl Tiara completed the look without drawing the same level of attention.

Which Bridal Look Is Your Favorite?

Zarah (1939)

Margot (1989)

Rowena (1990)

Hattie (1998)

Katherine (2013)

Lara (2022)

Voting ended onApr 19