Why King Charles Says No Way to Living at Buckingham Palace Even After Costly Renovations
The British royals’ most famous residence is the one where no members of the family actually live. And that will remain the case even after massive renovations at Buckingham Palace are completed in 2027.
A $487 million refurbishment of the Palace, which was the late Queen Elizabeth II‘s London homebase and where she lived for much of her life and raised her children, began in 2019. Some thought once the renovations were completed that King Charles would live at the Palace like so many monarchs before him. However, he and Queen Camilla will not leave their primary Clarence House home in London, ending the nearly 200-year-old tradition of the soveriegn residing at Buckingham Palace.
James Chalmers, the king’s treasurer and keeper of the privy purse, said Buckingham Palace would remain the primary venue for ceremonial and official functions including receiving foreign dignitaries.
“It is and will remain monarchy HQ, the crown jewel of our national buildings, with the sovereign’s standard flying proudly from the roof whenever his majesty is in London,” he told reporters.
However, others say that they never expected King Charles to live at the Palace. Even before his mother’s death, there had been numerous reports that he never wanted to move there.
“I know he is no fan of ‘The big house,’ as he calls the palace,” a source told The Sunday Times. “[The king] doesn’t see it as a viable future home or a house that’s fit for purpose in the modern world. He feels its upkeep, both from a cost and environmental perspective is not sustainable.”
That said, King Charles and Queen Camilla will continue to work out of their offices at Buckingham Palace as it will still serve as the administrative headquarters of the monarchy.
