The Real Reason Prince Charles Isn’t Interested in Relocating to Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is a thorn on Prince Charles' eye. As a result, when the Prince of Wales becomes King of England, he is unlikely to move into the royal family's headquarters. Find out why Prince Charles is vying for the royal residence, as well as where he will reign as king, below.

Prince Charles has confirmed that he does not want to reside at Buckingham Palace.

Prince Charles likes to do it his own way. While he follows — and deals with — much of the royal family's protocol (including staying out of politics amid his political interests in climate change), he has one request: Buckingham Palace. Prince Charles has stayed at the monarch's residence before, but he has no plans to do so again.

The future monarch could have a new address as the Prince of Wales ascends the throne and becomes the first King of England since 1952. He had, though, already moved the notion on to someone else. A source told Hello! Magazine, “I know he isn't a fan of ‘the big house,' as he refers to the palace.” “In the real world, he doesn't see it as a realistic potential home or a house fit for purpose. He believes its upkeep is unsustainable, both financially and environmentally,” the source said. Prince William, it seems, agrees.

Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms in total. Many of these are also part of the palace's latest restoration programme, which is estimated to take ten years to complete. The queen's living quarters are due for renovations in mid-2020, but even if Prince Charles were to move in sooner, he'd have to wait until 2027-2028.

Instead of relocating to the residence, Prince Charles intends to make it available to the general public. Guests will currently tour Buckingham Palace between July and October, when the royal family is on holiday. The future king, on the other hand, plans to prepare for longer visits and is preparing a memorial show in remembrance of his mother, the world's longest-reigning monarch.

Where will Prince Charles reside?

If Prince Charles does not relocate to Buckingham Palace, he will most likely remain at Clarence House, where he and his wife, Camilla Parker Bowles, currently reside. The Prince of Wales, like his sons, used to live at Kensington Palace, but after his grandmother died, he moved into her old quarters.

Clarence House, which was constructed between 1825 and 1827, is nearly 200 years old. It has breathtaking rooms brimming with paintings from the Royal Collection as well as furniture from Prince Charles' grandmother, the late Queen Mother. In his royal residence, the prince also displays his own works of art (he's a watercolorist!).

The morning room, the greenhouse room (Prince Charles likes a garden! ), the Lancaster room, and the library room are among the exclusive spaces available to Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles' guests.

Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, like Buckingham Palace, open Clarence House to the public every year in August while on holiday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. With VIP entry, guests will be able to see these beautiful rooms as well as Prince Charles' personal artwork.