it served as the headquarters of the american ninth air force from november 1943 to september 1944. the crown estate commissioners purchased the property from philip hill in 1945. the main house was to be occupied by princess elizabeth (later queen elizabeth ii) and her future husband, prince philip, duke of edinburgh, after their wedding in november 1947. however, the house burned down on 30 august 1947 before their wedding, so they rented windlesham moor instead. in the mid-1960s, the site was considered for a new home for princess margaret.