Charles moves into Queen Mum's home with his boys - and Camilla
By BRUCE WILSON in London
29apr03
PRINCE Charles and longtime companion Camilla Parker Bowles are setting up house – in his beloved grandmother's former home.
The heir to the throne and his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, will move into the late Queen Mother's former home, Clarence House, within the next few months, a spokesman said yesterday.
Mrs Parker Bowles is to have what is coyly called "rooms" in the new set-up, which will replace St James's Palace as Prince Charles's official residence.
The residence is being renovated at a cost of $A13 million – a bill that will be picked up by the British taxpayer.
Prince Charles, though, is believed to have spent some of his own money on parts of the refurbishment.
Prince Charles is believed to have kept much of the atmosphere of Clarence House as a memorial to his grandmother, who died last year.
In fact, the Queen Mother never much liked Clarence House when she first moved into it, but came to call it home. She shared it with Princess Margaret, who also died last year.
Mrs Parker Bowles will not officially live there and will keep her home in Wiltshire.
She has played a part in decorating Clarence House and will have a small suite of offices and an apartment of her own with perhaps a small staff.
But, in practice, she will share Prince Charles's quarters.
There have been consistent reports that Mrs Parker Bowles had been sidelined by the new household running Prince Charles's official life, headed by Sir Michael Peat.
However, she is known to attend all of the prince's diary conferences and remains one of his closest advisers.
There also were reports yesterday that Prince William has opted out of any large public affair for his 21st birthday in June, preferring to delay his entry into public life until he finishes his university course.
For the first time Clarence House will be open to the public this year, from August 6 to October 17.
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