History of the Dolls’ House
The vision for Queen Mary's Dolls' House originated with Queen Mary's cousin, Princess Marie Louise. It was at the 1921 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition that she proposed the idea to Sir Edwin Lutyens, a leading architect of the era.
Leveraging her extensive network within the arts, Princess Marie Louise enlisted the skills of the foremost artists and craftsmen of the time to contribute their talents to the project. Conceived as a gift from the nation to Queen Mary, the doll's house also served as a historical record, illustrating the royal family’s lifestyle during that period.
Subsequently, the doll's house was displayed to generate funds for the Queen's charitable endeavors. Its initial public showing was at the British Empire Exhibition of 1924–1925, attracting over 1.6 million visitors. Today, it remains a popular tourist attraction at Windsor Castle.