Experts say King Charles is likely to use Buckingham Palace renovations as ‘excuse not to move in’ and instead ‘open it up to public all year round’ with sources suggesting new monarch has eyes on smaller residences like Balmoral Castle as permanent home
- Sources suggest Buckingham Palace could be publicly open permanently
King Charles will be in ‘perpetual orbit’ if he chooses to split his time between his more than a dozen royal residences, from London to Transylvania, a royal historian has claimed.
It has been widely known for some time that the newly crowned monarch has no desire to move into Buckingham Palace, preferring to reside in his current home Clarence House throughout his reign.
The ‘frugal’ King’s preferences will also likely have implications for the use of Balmoral, with those close to him suggesting he will continue to use a smaller home on the estate, only using the actual castle from prime ministerial visits.
Royal biographers have now suggested the King may use current renovations taking place at Buckingham Palace as an excuse not to move into what is the most famous royal residence in the world.
Instead, it has been suggested the 775-room palace in Westminster, London, which the late Queen Elizabeth called home throughout her reign, could be opened up to the public all year round.
King Charles will be in ‘perpetual orbit’ if he chooses to split his time between his more than a dozen royal residences, from London to Transylvania
Royal biographers have now suggested the King may even use current renovations taking place at Buckingham Palace as an excuse not to move into what is the most famous royal residence in the world
Royal Historian Hugo Vickers, who claimed the King would forever be on the move, if he were to tried to split his time between the numerous castles and stately homes up and down the country.
‘I think you’ll find he’ll stay at Clarence House, which even Queen Elizabeth wanted to do, but Winston Churchill made her go to Buckingham Palace.’
Royal expert Ingrid Seward, who is editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, also told The Times: ‘Maybe in the end he will have to move into Buckingham Palace, but I don’t think he wants to.
‘Buckingham Palace is so huge and impersonal and red, with red carpets and curtains. It’s not his style. He may decided that it should be available to the public all year round.’
The stately home could be opened up as a ‘gallery’ or ‘presidents’ guesthouse’ under King Charles’s plans to live in a different royal residence.
Others claimed Buckingham Palace is seen as ‘unsuitable’ for modern life by the King Charles, who would prefer to reside in Clarence House throughout his reign.
It comes amid King Charles plans to create a ‘slimmed down’ monarchy which is less costly and has fewer working royals.
But the palace, which has 19 state rooms, 240 bedrooms, 78 bathrooms and 92 offices, could instead be opened up as an art gallery to display ‘one of the world’s great private art collections’
The King’s preferences for smaller stately homes may also have implications for Balmoral (pictured) where the late Queen felt most at home
The King is still expected to spend his summers at Castle of Mey in Caithness in Scotland (pictured)
It could also be used as ‘Monarchy HQ’ and official guesthouse where people on ‘state visits’ could stay.
Traditionally, its state rooms and gardens have been open to the public for only ten weeks a year, from July to October, when the late Queen was at Balmoral.
The private art collection includes work by Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian, Vermeer and others.
And the palace is six years into a decade-long, £369million taxpayer-funded refurbishment.
A source close to the King told the Sunday Times: ‘He likes it at Clarence House, is quite frugal and wouldn’t want to get an interior designer in to redo Buckingham Palace for him.
‘People who come to Britain on state visits expect to stay at Buckingham Palace, so it could become a gallery and presidents’ guesthouse.’
The source added: ‘The Royal Collection is one of the world’s great private art collections and it would be a fantastic way to have it be seen more widely.’
The private art collection includes work by Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian, Vermeer and others.
The King’s preferences for smaller stately homes may also have implications for Balmoral where the late Queen felt most at home.
When staying on the sprawling Scottish estate Charles often opted to stay in Birkhall – a smaller eight bedroom.
Another source told The Times: ‘He absolutely loves Birkhall. I would be amazed if he abandoned that.
‘I think it’s far more likely that the will stay at Balmoral when there are prime ministerial visits but treat it like an office.’
The King is still expected to spend his summers at Castle of Mey in Caithness in Scotland.
A source close to the King told the Sunday Times: ‘He likes it at Clarence House (pictured), is quite frugal and wouldn’t want to get an interior designer in to redo Buckingham Palace for him’
The private art collection includes work by Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian, Vermeer and others
Traditionally, its state rooms and gardens have been open to the public for only ten weeks a year, from July to October. Pictured: the Palace Ballroom, used for state banquets
The palace is six years into a decade-long, £369million taxpayer-funded refurbishment. Pictured: the White Drawing Room
The building needs an ‘urgent overhaul’ to prevent the risk of fire, flood and damage because the electrics, plumbing and heating have not been updated since the 1950s, according to Ministers.
In 2020, a two-minute video shared on the Royal Family Instagram account showed how 19th century wallpaper was being carefully removed ‘piece by piece’ from the Yellow Drawing Room as part of work in the East Wing.
The wallpaper was ‘conserved and preserved’ by experts before being rehung in the stunning reception room at the front of the palace.
Speaking in the video, wallpaper conservator Allyson McDermott explained: ‘We are removing the beautiful wallpaper, 19th century century Chinese wallpaper, piece by piece. We will then take it back to our studios to conserve it and preserve it for the future.
She continued: ‘This is the perfect time. The paper is in desperate need of conservation. It is very acidic, very fragile. It is a wonderful opportunity to do it while all of the work is being carried out around the palace.’
The building needs an ‘urgent overhaul’ to prevent the risk of fire, flood and damage because the electrics. Pictured: the Yellow Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace
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