Royal family
Find out why King Charles has refused to move into Buckingham Palace.
The most famous residence of the British royals is the one where no members of the family actually live. And it will remain so even after massive renovations at Buckingham Palace is completed in 2027.
A $487 million renovation of the palace, which was the late Queen Elizabeth IIher home base in London, and where she lived most of her life and raised her children, began in 2019. Some believed that once the renovations were complete, King Charles would live at the palace like so many monarchs before him. However, he and Queen Camilla will not be leaving their primary Clarence House home in London, ending the nearly 200-year-old tradition of the sovereign living in Buckingham Palace.
James Chalmers, the king’s treasurer and keeper of the privy purse, said Buckingham Palace remains the primary venue for ceremonial and official functions, including receiving foreign dignitaries.
“It is and will remain the headquarters of the monarchy, the crown jewel of our national buildings, with the Sovereign’s standard flying proudly from the roof when His Majesty is in London,” he told reporters.
However, others say they never expected King Charles to live at the palace. Even before his mother’s death, there had been numerous reports that he would never move there.
“I know he’s not a fan of ‘The Big House’ as he calls the palace,” a source said Sunday Times. “(The king) does not see it as a viable future home or a house that is fit for purpose in the modern world. He feels that its maintenance, both from a cost and environmental perspective, is not sustainable.”
That said, King Charles and Queen Camilla will continue to work from their offices at Buckingham Palace, as it will still serve as the monarchy’s administrative headquarters.
Leave a Reply