For royal enthusiasts and history buffs, the birthplace of Queen Elizabeth II holds a special intrigue. Born on April 21, 1926, the future monarch entered the world not in a grand palace, but at 17 Bruton Street, Mayfair, London. This seemingly modest townhouse, owned by her maternal grandparents, the Earl and Countess of Strathmore, stands as a poignant reminder of a time when the royal family operated with less extravagance. Royal historian Robert Lacey aptly notes, “It’s a reminder of how the royal family was not as flush in those days. Money was an issue,” especially considering that Princess Elizabeth was not initially destined for the throne. But the story of 17 Bruton Street is shrouded in misconceptions, with many believing it fell victim to Blitz bombings during World War II. This article delves into the real story, separating fact from fiction and pinpointing the actual location of this significant historical site on Bruton Street today.
Debunking the Blitz Myth: The Demise of 17 Bruton Street
Contrary to popular belief, the house at 17 Bruton Street was not a casualty of the Blitz. Historical records from the British Library and London archives reveal a different narrative: the 18th-century townhouse was demolished before the war even began. The true culprit was not wartime destruction, but rather the relentless march of property development in London.
In 1937, long before the air raids, demolition crews systematically dismantled 17 Bruton Street, along with numerous historic buildings extending into Berkeley Square. Plans were initially proposed for a grand hotel for the Canadian Pacific Railway, but the site ultimately made way for a modern office and retail complex, Berkeley Square House. This era was marked by a stark disregard for architectural heritage, as evidenced by the flattening of what were described as “20 of the most historic houses in London” without public outcry. A somber drawing by war artist Sir Muirhead Bone captured the demolition, depicting workmen tearing down the facades of these elegant buildings.
A surveyor’s note from May 1939, archived in the London Metropolitan Archive, definitively closes the case. It confirms the demolition of 17 Bruton Street and states that “its site forms part of that upon which Berkeley Square House has been built.” Astrea, the current management firm for Berkeley Square House, confirms that the newly constructed building was occupied by the air ministry as World War II loomed.
The Chinese Restaurant Misconception and the Real Location Today
Another persistent myth is that the site of Queen Elizabeth II’s birthplace is now occupied by a Chinese restaurant. While the Hakkasan restaurant does share the 17 Bruton Street address, this is only part of the picture. The address also encompasses an adjacent block of offices and a corporate entrance to Berkeley Square House. This entire commercial block stands on what was once a row of individual private houses in the 1920s, including the original 17 Bruton Street.
The less romantic, but more accurate truth is that the anonymous corporate entrance of Berkeley Square House is the closest point to the original 17 Bruton Street. The precise location where the Queen was born is now a side entrance to these offices. Within the London Metropolitan Archive, detailed files and art deco architectural drawings reveal the layout of the original house. These documents indicate that the lost townhouse stood roughly where this entrance is now, extending towards the current Bugatti and Bentley car showroom.
Westminster City Council planners corroborate this, confirming the location by cross-referencing boundary lines with properties on the opposite side of Bruton Street. While part of the Hakkasan restaurant does overlap with the original footprint of number 17, the main part of the Queen’s birthplace is under the corporate entrance next door. Sharon Wightman, general manager at Hakkasan, acknowledges the royal connection as a “brilliantly interesting talking point” for their guests.
A Discreet History and Lingering Royal Connection
Two plaques on a nearby wall commemorate the birthplace, including one from Westminster Council. These markers have been relocated over time due to building modifications and now sit at one end of the original site. There is no official blue plaque, as English Heritage policy dictates they must be placed on original buildings and are not erected for living individuals.
Toby Cuthbertson from Westminster’s planning department describes the original 17 Bruton Street as a “first-rate” London property, befitting its Mayfair location. When Princess Elizabeth was born there in 1926, her royal grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary, visited her on her first day. Queen Mary noted in her diary that her granddaughter was “a little darling, with a lovely complexion and pretty fair hair.” It was also here that the Home Secretary William Joynson-Hicks, nicknamed “Mussolini minor,” arrived to fulfill the then-protocol of the Home Secretary being present at royal births.
This Bruton Street address also holds earlier royal significance. It was from this house that the Queen’s mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, departed for her wedding to the Duke of York in 1923. They returned to 17 Bruton Street to welcome their first child three years later. Furthermore, its proximity to Harley Street made it convenient for Lionel Logue, the speech therapist who helped King George VI overcome his stammer, to visit from 1926 onwards.
From Royal Birthplace to Modern Mayfair
In the 1920s, Mayfair was a hub of upper-class social life, but also a district facing political and social tensions. The General Strike occurred shortly after the Queen’s birth, prompting her grandfather, George V, to famously remark, “Try living on their wages before you judge them.” Later in 1926, the Duke and Duchess of York moved to a larger residence in Piccadilly.
Plans to convert the Bruton Street house into offices emerged, with architectural drawings detailing the transformation of rooms, including the Princess’s birth room, into functional office spaces. A contemporary newspaper described the birth room as “one of the least ornate of all the rooms, but also one of the sunniest.” Despite these plans, the house was ultimately demolished.
Today, the site remains understated for such a historically important location. Historian Robert Lacey suggests this reflects the Queen’s inherent modesty, stating, “I think it reflects the general modesty of the Queen. She doesn’t blow her own trumpet.” Interestingly, the land is still part of a royal estate, now belonging to the Abu Dhabi royal family’s property portfolio, estimated to be worth billions in this prestigious area of London.
In the early 1930s, Howard Frank, co-founder of Knight Frank estate agency, managed the original 17 Bruton Street. Simon Burgoyne, a current Knight Frank property expert in Mayfair, explains that this area was historically where landed families maintained their London townhouses. Post-war, these large houses became too expensive to maintain and were largely converted into offices. Now, a reverse trend is occurring, with offices being transformed back into luxury residences. Burgoyne estimates that had 17 Bruton Street survived, it could be worth upwards of £25 million, potentially reaching £100 million today.
In a final, unexpected twist, by 1937, Princess Elizabeth and her parents had moved into Buckingham Palace following the 1936 abdication crisis. Wallis Simpson, central to this crisis, was investigated by Special Branch, who discovered claims of her affair with a car salesman, Guy Marcus Trundle. Trundle’s address? 18 Bruton Street – now fittingly, part of the Bentley dealership, completing the circle of history and modern Mayfair on this storied street.
