The Monarchy after Elizabeth II

[Curryong]

I don't think anyone, from King William IV on actually wanted to live at BP. It is reputedly draughty, cold and inconvenient.
The Queen and Prince Philip were living at CH in 1952, had got it just the way they liked it, and didn't want to move. Perhaps it was them you were thinking of, MARG?
The Queen Mother took her time in moving out of BP at that time, but I think it was just not wanting to leave her time as Queen Consort behind rather than any love for the building as a home.

 

[Dman]

Charles wouldn't give up Buckingham Palace for nothing in the world. He adores the grandeur of the place. It's the family headquarters.

 

[Osipi]

We have no clue what Charles would or wouldn't do. There is a bit of sense in wanting to stay at Clarence House though. Especially if the renovations of Buckingham Palace is going to take a good amount of time.

It may make sense that the King lives at Clarence House where he is quite comfortable now with the memories of his grandmother all around him. To him, its "home". Being in close proximity to BP, the "office" is right around the corner and an ideal setting for affairs of state and garden parties and things relevant to the monarchy.

I can't remember if it was Philip or not who said that living at BP was like living above the shop. Personally, I like the idea of Charles being able to live where he feels most "at home". Don't we all?

 

[Dman]

Let's not forget that Buckingham Palace is a very homey place too. I know the most we see is the state rooms, but there are the Royals private quarters too.

It's really up to the royals to breathe new life into the place. I think how the Obamas brung life into the White House. Charles can do the same to Buckingham Palace. The concerts, activities, ceremonies and other events can help take that place from being a museum like structure, to a place of warmth and fun.

I think Charles could take the red carpet up in the ballroom and bring back the glory of the dance events that used to be held there.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

Charles wouldn't give up Buckingham Palace for nothing in the world. He adores the grandeur of the place. It's the family headquarters.

The Prince of Wales is known for his great taste. That makes me hard to believe he "loves" Buckingham Palace, a grey mammoth with Edelkitsch interiors hiding the beautiful original premises.

When we look at all his efforts for Highgrove, for Llwynywermod, for Dumfries, then a bigger contrast in taste, style and looks is not possible. In my opinion Buckingham Palace can serve alike the royal palaces in Stockholm, Madrid, Amsterdam, Luxembourg and Brussels: none of these are the actual living residences of the monarch but all are very much functioning for the execution of the royal role.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

I read in one of the Queen's bios that she actually didn't want to move into BP but her advisors at the time strongly encouraged her to do so.

I've also read that Charles wants to stay in CH and leave BP more or less as offices or for whoever is living there could still stay too.


LaRae

Staying at Clarence House and then use Buckingham Palace for official events is very sensible. Let us not forget that Buckingham Palace also houses hundreds of staff. Leaving the palace to go to Clarence House litterally means leaving "office" and be at home in a far more private setting.

King Carl XVI Gustaf lives at Drottningholm but uses the Royal Palace in Stockholm.
King Felipe VII lives at La Zarzuela but uses the Palacio Real de Madrid.
King Philippe lives at the Château de Laeken but uses the Koninklijk Paleis / Palais Royal in Brussels
King Willem-Alexander will move to Huis ten Bosch but uses the Koninklijk Paleis in Amsterdam.
Grand-Duke Henri lives at Schloss Colmar-Berg but uses the Palais Grand-Ducal in Luxembourg.

All of them have made a separation between their private family life and the "office". And that has nothing to do with size: the palaces in Madrid and Stockholm are e-nor-mous, the biggest royal residences in the world. Still theze royals made the choice to keep distance between private family-life and "the Firm".

 

[Iluvbertie]

Let's not forget that Buckingham Palace is a very homey place too. I know the most we see is the state rooms, but there are the Royals private quarters too.

It's really up to the royals to breathe new life into the place. I think how the Obamas brung life into the White House. Charles can do the same to Buckingham Palace. The concerts, activities, ceremonies and other events can help take that place from being a museum like structure, to a place of warmth and fun.

I think Charles could take the red carpet up in the ballroom and bring back the glory of the dance events that used to be held there.

There are already 100s of concerts, activities, ceremonies, receptions, etc taking place at BP but it will always be more a museum than anything else.

The Queen stays there only a couple of nights a week and although it is Andrew and Edward's London base they too are hardly ever there preferring their country homes to that place.

No one has ever wanted to live there other than Victoria who saw it as a home away from KP and that is all.

Edward VII and Alexandra weren't that keen and Alexandra really wanted to stay at Marlborough House.

George V and Mary accepted it as a fait accompli but again spent as little time there as possible as did George VI and Elizabeth who also preferred Windsor and the country homes to that of the palace at the end of the Mall. It isn't a 'home' but a place of work and as quickly as possible those that do live there decamp elsewhere.

 

[Osipi]

Let's not forget that Buckingham Palace is a very homey place too. I know the most we see is the state rooms, but there are the Royals private quarters too.

It's really up to the royals to breathe new life into the place. I think how the Obamas brung life into the White House. Charles can do the same to Buckingham Palace. The concerts, activities, ceremonies and other events can help take that place from being a museum like structure, to a place of warmth and fun.

I think Charles could take the red carpet up in the ballroom and bring back the glory of the dance events that used to be held there.

To be honest, I don't think I've ever heard anyone that actually has lived at Buckingham Palace call it "homey". There have been a lot of adjectives used to describe the palace but "homey" isn't one of them. Once when the Queen was asked why she carries her purse with her even when "at home" at BP, she astutely remarked "its a big place".

All those things you mentioned that Charles could do with Buckingham Palace when he is king are a good possibility and it would be nice to see some of that come back to the palace but it doesn't necessarily mean that that he'd want it to be his home. Home is where you hang your hat and your heart and as with Highgrove, Charles has many happy memories of a lifetime with Clarence House, I think, more so than Buckingham Palace.

 

[Denville]

I think that he isn't that crazy about BP, it doesn't seem to be a very family orientated place and wen he was married he moved from there to KP and I think ti was always intended that when the Q Mother died, he and his wife woud go to Clarence house.. Now he's gone ther with Camilla. SO I think he may have a pied a terre at BP but he will continiue to live at CH and use BP for an office and state functions.

 

[Iluvbertie]

All those events listed are already happening at the palace though. Charles doesn't need to bring anything back as they never left.

BP has hosted receptions, garden parties, concerts, dinners, lunches, investitures and a range of other events this year.

They don't receive any video coverage however so people don't realise that they are held there but reading the CC gives a good idea of the range of activities that take place at BP each year.

This month alone (and the online CC is only up to the 12th) has: 2 receptions, 2 lunches, 2 receiveds. September is a quiet month as the palace is still open to the public, the Queen is in Scotland and most of the royals are largely still on holiday and yet in these 12 days 6 events there (mainly by Andrew).

On some days there can be 6 events in the day by different royals (not including the days when the Queen has half a dozen audiences).

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

It was my understanding that the Queen spends as little as possible at Buckingham Palace, so it is already not functioning as the regular home of the Queen.

 

[Dee Anna]

I think history and tradition may prevail, the Standard is traditionally flown over the place where the Monarch is in residence and when in London that is Buckingham Palace.

On the flip side what of CH? A fortune has been spent on the apartments Will and Kate have at KP and I believe there is talk of more renovations at additional KP apartments for Harry? CH is fairly flexible, it became the dowager home for the QM, then the home of the Heir for Charles, so quite accommodating. BP on the other hand is a palace, London home of the Monarch. I think that will be difficult to change. As said, Changing of the Guard etc., traditions not easily overwritten or placed elsewhere.

 

[Dee Anna]

It was my understanding that the Queen spends as little as possible at Buckingham Palace, so it is already not functioning as the regular home of the Queen.

But that is where she does stay when in London?

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

But that is where she does stay when in London?

If possible, the Queen travels back to Windsor Castle. If not possible, she will spend the night at Buckingham Palace. I understood she does spend one, maybe two nights at Buckingham Palace, but there are also quite long periods when she is not there at all, staying at Balmoral, Sandringham and Windsor.

So in daily practice Buckingham Palace already does not really function as daily home to the Queen.

 

[Osipi]

If I'm not mistaken, The Queen leaves London on Friday for Windsor, returning sometime on Monday. Business usually is conducted at BP Tuesday-Friday.
Please correct me if I'm wrong on this.

This already shows that BP is the "office" and Windsor is "home". Its said that the Queen very much prefers Windsor Castle to BP. Even the royal family that has apartments at BP only use that as a pied a terre for an overnight stay when they have to be in London. Home is elsewhere.

 

[Denville]

I think that was the case, Osipi, but possibly now as she gets older she spends more time at Windsor.. and if she can drive back there for the Night she does so, rather than sleep in BP.

Charles and Diana alsos usually spent weekends at their country house, and when their marriage got very bad Charles more or less spend most of his time at Highgrove and just came to London to work.
But I think that it is true that BP increasingly "just the office" rather than home for the queen.

 

[Dee Anna]

If the Queen spends her leisure time at Windsor and works (daily red boxes) at Buckingham Palace I think Osipi's post sounds most likely. It's about 35K between the two so can't see it being a daily round trip. So BP would still be the main residence; whether it will post Elizabeth we will have to wait and see.

 

[Denville]

It is not that far from London, I mean not so far that It would be an exhausting trip. she would be driven.. she Problaby sleeps a couple of nights at BP but if she finishes work early enough to make the trip back to WIndsor she probably does that nowadays.

 

[wyevale]

It is not that far from London

Does HMQ 'do' Helicopters ? If so that would be very fast...

 

[Denville]

Certainly she's used them sometimes. but there's no need IMO for copters, WIndsor is not that far out of London, if she prefers to say ony spend 2 nights a week at BP, its not that long a journey to drive back there..

 

[Skippyboo]

They took a helicopter to Sandringham last Christmas. Windsor to BP with a police escort would be rather a quick drive

 

[Osipi]

Taking the helicopter to Sandringham was not HM's usual mode of travel. She usually takes the train to Sandringham but last Christmas, she came down with that very nasty bug that sidelined her quite a bit so traveled by helicopter.

Still, I do think that Charles will use Buckingham Palace as a residence even less than HM does. It does all depend on just when Charles becomes king and if the repairs and renovations on BP are completed.

 

[ROYAL NORWAY]

1. As people can see in post 443, this is news based on an investigation from the Times, but both Clarence House and Charles's communications secretary Julian Payne has denied it.

A Clarence House spokesman said to The Times: “Buckingham Palace will remain the official London residence of the monarch.”

A royal source said to The Times: “We have continued to say that Kensington Palace will be the Duke of Cambridge’s residence throughout the next reign, whereupon he will move into Buckingham Palace.”

Charles's communications secretary wrote the following on his personal twitter account: Royal story untrue.

Then he wrote in a second tweet to Robert Jobson: The story is wrong. Completely.

So I'm in fact 99,9% sure that both Charles and William will use Buckingham Palace as their official London residence as monarchs.

2. The Queen leaves London on Thursday (used to be Friday) afternoon for Windsor, returning sometime on Monday.

3. Total number of nights spent by the Queen at each residence (nights spent abroad not included) from the Telegraph - I don't have the numbers from 2016:

Buckingham Palace:
2011: 109
2012: 102
2013: 94
2014: 95
2015: 88

Windsor Castle:
2011: 119
2012: 137
2013: 153
2014: 147
2015: 159

Sandringham:
2011: 51
2012: 49
2013: 53
2014: 54
2015: 54

Balmoral:
2011: 62
2012: 63
2013: 61
2014: 62
2015: 58

Palace of Holyroodhouse:
2011: 7
2012: 4
2013: 3
2014: 3
2015: 4

 

[Tamara77]

With all that is happening in the world now I think it's going to be very different no matter who is reigning. So Charles might have big plans but don't see him making a lot happen. As for Camila she doesn't have the robust health family gene the royals have so who knows what her future is.

I very much agree with your thinking, Royal Rob.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

1. As people can see in post 443, this is news based on an investigation from the Times, but both Clarence House and Charles's communications secretary Julian Payne has denied it.

A Clarence House spokesman said to The Times: “Buckingham Palace will remain the official London residence of the monarch.”

A royal source said to The Times: “We have continued to say that Kensington Palace will be the Duke of Cambridge’s residence throughout the next reign, whereupon he will move into Buckingham Palace.”

Charles's communications secretary wrote the following on his personal twitter account: Royal story untrue.

Then he wrote in a second tweet to Robert Jobson: The story is wrong. Completely.

So I'm in fact 99,9% sure that both Charles and William will use Buckingham Palace as their official London residence as monarchs.

2. The Queen leaves London on Thursday (used to be Friday) afternoon for Windsor, returning sometime on Monday.

3. Total number of nights spent by the Queen at each residence (nights spent abroad not included) from the Telegraph - I don't have the numbers from 2016:

Buckingham Palace:
2011: 109
2012: 102
2013: 94
2014: 95
2015: 88

Windsor Castle:
2011: 119
2012: 137
2013: 153
2014: 147
2015: 159

Sandringham:
2011: 51
2012: 49
2013: 53
2014: 54
2015: 54

Balmoral:
2011: 62
2012: 63
2013: 61
2014: 62
2015: 58

Palace of Holyroodhouse:
2011: 7
2012: 4
2013: 3
2014: 3
2015: 4

So already for years Windsor Castle is the most used residence for the Queen's sleep. That Buckingham Palace stays " the official London residence of the Queen" is kicking in an open door by the palace's spokesman. The Palacio Real in Madrid, the Royal Palace on Stockholm, etc. are the King's official residences in said capitals but they seldom or never spend a night there. We will see to which extent Buckingham Palace will be restored. At the other side of the sea, Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague is hidden behind scaffoldings from basement to rooftops and simply inhabitable. When Buckingham Palace is really restored cq modernized with all rooms empty, scaffoldings everywhere, hundreds of workforce all over the place, I can see King Charles staying ar Clarence House.

 

[ROYAL NORWAY]

When Buckingham Palace is really restored cq modernized with all rooms empty, scaffoldings everywhere, hundreds of workforce all over the place, I can see King Charles staying ar Clarence House.

That's not gonna happen because each of the Palace’s four wings will be refitted one at a time, starting with the East Wing - the front of the Palace - enabling the building to remain fully operational at all times. The Queen, Philip and other members of the Royal family will remain in residence while the work is carried out between 2017 and 2027, but temporary accommodation will be built in the gardens of the Palace for some of the staff who live there. The Queen will, however, have to move out of her private apartments for a short period when the electrical system there is to be changed. She will then use another part of the palace.

And the refurbishment work will most likely be finished by the time of Charles's accession to the throne. The Queen is (according to reliable sources) fit as a fiddle and both the palace and her doctors belive (according to the guardian) that HM will die after a short illness, and both her Platinum Jubilee and her 100th birthday is already being planned.

 

[Lady Nimue]

The Prince of Wales is known for his great taste. That makes me hard to believe he "loves" Buckingham Palace, a grey mammoth with Edelkitsch interiors hiding the beautiful original premises.

When we look at all his efforts for Highgrove, for Llwynywermod, for Dumfries, then a bigger contrast in taste, style and looks is not possible. In my opinion Buckingham Palace can serve alike the royal palaces in Stockholm, Madrid, Amsterdam, Luxembourg and Brussels: none of these are the actual living residences of the monarch but all are very much functioning for the execution of the royal role.

Staying at Clarence House and then use Buckingham Palace for official events is very sensible. Let us not forget that Buckingham Palace also houses hundreds of staff. Leaving the palace to go to Clarence House litterally means leaving "office" and be at home in a far more private setting.

King Carl XVI Gustaf lives at Drottningholm but uses the Royal Palace in Stockholm.
King Felipe VII lives at La Zarzuela but uses the Palacio Real de Madrid.
King Philippe lives at the Château de Laeken but uses the Koninklijk Paleis / Palais Royal in Brussels
King Willem-Alexander will move to Huis ten Bosch but uses the Koninklijk Paleis in Amsterdam.
Grand-Duke Henri lives at Schloss Colmar-Berg but uses the Palais Grand-Ducal in Luxembourg.

All of them have made a separation between their private family life and the "office". And that has nothing to do with size: the palaces in Madrid and Stockholm are e-nor-mous, the biggest royal residences in the world. Still theze royals made the choice to keep distance between private family-life and "the Firm".

There are already 100s of concerts, activities, ceremonies, receptions, etc taking place at BP but it will always be more a museum than anything else.

The Queen stays there only a couple of nights a week and although it is Andrew and Edward's London base they too are hardly ever there preferring their country homes to that place.

No one has ever wanted to live there other than Victoria who saw it as a home away from KP and that is all.

Edward VII and Alexandra weren't that keen and Alexandra really wanted to stay at Marlborough House.

George V and Mary accepted it as a fait accompli but again spent as little time there as possible as did George VI and Elizabeth who also preferred Windsor and the country homes to that of the palace at the end of the Mall. It isn't a 'home' but a place of work and as quickly as possible those that do live there decamp elsewhere.

It was my understanding that the Queen spends as little as possible at Buckingham Palace, so it is already not functioning as the regular home of the Queen.

I agree that an 'official residence' and where one actually lives can be (and are) two different locations. There is no conflict: by the announcements it is clear that BP remains 'official' but that Charles will use CH and William will move from KP to BP during his reign, though honestly I am one to doubt that Kate will be willing to give up what will have been years spent at KP - a 'family home' with significant memories - for BP. Especially if she has a 4th child (2020) I think she will want to keep the family continuity at KP while the children are raised. JMO.

 

[Skippyboo]

Kate moved several times when she was a child. The Middletons even spent 2 years living in Jordan. Mike and Carole sold the family home and moved into a larger home after she got married. By the time William is King the kids will be ready for boarding school. William is the one with attachment to KP but even he didn't want to live in Diana's old apartment. CH is just down the street from BP. KP is not. George, Charlotte and Baby Cambridge will all need places to live in London. Apt 1a is prime location for adult Charlotte or baby Cambridge to live.

 

[Mirabel]

If I'm not mistaken, The Queen leaves London on Friday for Windsor, returning sometime on Monday. Business usually is conducted at BP Tuesday-Friday.
Please correct me if I'm wrong on this.

This was the case at one time.
But recently I've heard that the Queen usually goes to Windsor on Thursday and returns to BP on Tuesday.

It seems as she gets older, the Queen prefers to spend more and more time at Windsor.

What about when Charles becomes king?
Will the Cambridges stay put, or move to Clarence House?

 

[tommy100]

I think Charles will move into BP because ultimately he is not the sort of person to "underdo" monarchy or to "play things down". As far as I know the whole of one wing is given over to the private apartments its facing the side of the palace overlooking a green garden area but not the main lawn. I say this because CH is much the same, its a separate building in its own right but attached on to St James' and shares a garden with it so its not as if Charles and Camilla would be moving from their own completely detached house in acres of private garden into it. IMO Charles knows its important for him to be seen as King and the trapping that come with it are important to people accepting him as such. All such my opinion and speculation because we will not know for sure until it happens.