EXCLUSIVE: It has been revealed that the King will no longer live at Buckingham Palace after a £369million renovation is completed – and royal expert Jenny Bond has questioned whether it will any longer remain the “beating heart of the monarchy”.
Charles outside Buckingham Palace the day after becoming king (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
King Charles’ Historic decision not to live in Buckingham Palace Its magic will be “destroyed” after a £369 million renovation, according to a royal expert.
Despite the taxpayer paying for the renovation, Charles has decided that it will not be the official residence of his reign. Instead, he and queen camilla He will continue to live at nearby Clarence House in London, while the monarch will continue to keep homes in Scotland, Gloucestershire and Norfolk, as well as use them. Windsor Castle In Berkshire.
The general expectation was that the King would live at Buckingham Palace when the work was completed as it was so closely associated with the late Queen, who had an apartment at the residence.
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Charles’s decision ended almost 200 years of the monarch’s history buckingham palaceSince Queen Victoria took over the residence in 1837.
And while tourists and other visitors flock to the palace every year to catch a glimpse of the famous building, royal expert Jenny Bond believes its charm may be compromised.
East BBC royal correspondent told mirror : “It cannot be denied that part of the charm of the palace was always to stand near the railing and look up to see if a curtain moved and a crowned head peeked out!
“Of course, this is all a fantasy, because the private apartments are hidden at the back and, in any case, no one has been in the palace for about seven years. Has anyone noticed? Probably not.
“There will still be the chance to see the king or other members of the family coming to the palace for meetings or events. There will still be garden parties, and the same spectacle of the changing of the guard. But it can’t be denied that a little bit of the magic will have been lost.
“The palace insists that it will still be the beating heart of the monarchy. I’m not so sure, but it will certainly be worth it in the future.”
The decision is said to be made partly to increase public access to the London landmark, as security concerns would have limited the number of people and areas if the monarch were in residence.
A palace spokesperson said: “Her Majesty has great affection for Buckingham Palace and deep respect for its role in royal and public life. It will be a vibrant hub of royal activity in every way.” And Jenny explained that there could be an upside to the decision – but only if the building is made more accessible to the public.
He explained: “The good thing is, there is going to be a lot more public access to the palace – and that will bring both revenue and pleasure. But you have to wonder why £370 million of taxpayers’ money has been used to refurbish a palace that will not be occupied by royalty anytime in the foreseeable future.
“Yes, it was falling apart in places, and required a large amount of maintenance. But it was always with the expectation that it would remain the King’s principal home. Not that I would necessarily want to move it king charles.
“He and Camilla have created a comfortable, cozy home in Clarence House, which is, after all, just down the road. Why should they be forced to uproot themselves at this age and live somewhere they don’t want to live?
“Winston Churchill forced young Elizabeth and Philip into the palace, causing them all kinds of pain. I’m glad we’ve moved on from that.”
A £369 million, 10-year re-servicing project to replace boilers, electrical cables and pipes to reduce the risk of fire and flooding at London’s mega-tower is due to be completed next March.
Charles has lived at the Queen Mother’s former home, Clarence House, since 2003 and will continue to host a range of events at the palace, from garden parties to receptions and welcoming audiences with the new ambassadors.
When the monarch is in London, her royal flag flies from both Buckingham Palace and Clarence House, whichever estate she resides in.
Jenny said: “I have been to the palace several times and it is a magnificent barn. In my opinion, it is all a bit gaudy. But I am sure that if allowed people would like to visit the many grand rooms and gardens, and the building would become a much-loved museum, while still containing a number of offices for the King’s staff.”
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