Queen Elizabeth II Makes Windsor Castle Her Permanent Home

Queen Elizabeth II has decided to make Windsor Castle her permanent home and official residence, according to a report by Royal Editor Roy Nicar of the Sunday Times.

The 95-year-old monarch, who has lived at Buckingham Palace for most of her 70-year reign, has come to prefer life at Windsor Castle, where she has spent much of the past two years since leaving London to isolate with Prince Philip at the start of the pandemic.

Sources say the couple rediscovered the happiness of their earlier years together during this time, and it is believed the monarch has come to prefer life in Windsor.

Royal author Hugo Vickers told the Sunday Times, “Windsor is the place she loves.

She has her memories with Prince Philip there, she has two.”

The palace is currently undergoing renovation and is expected to be completed in 2027.

When the renovations began, it was planned that the Queen would only move out of her private apartments temporarily, but since then, it has been decided that she will vacate the palace for good to minimize her travel, with it also no longer deemed suitable for a long-term home, the Times reports.

It is understood the Queen will permanently work from her home at Windsor Castle and is expected to meet dignitaries and officials there.

The record-breaking monarch will celebrate her 96th birthday this year and has found solace in her work following the death of Prince Philip, but she was forced to slow down on medical advice in October last year.

The palace was forced to confirm that she had an overnight stay in hospital after going in for unspecified tests, and since then, her appearance has become rarer.

Two weeks ago, she was forced to cancel several engagements after catching Covid virus and suffering from mild cold-like symptoms.

The Queen's next planned engagement outside Windsor Castle is the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 14, her first official event away from a royal residence in five months.

She is also expected to attend a service of thanksgiving for Prince Philip at the Abbey on March 29, together with other members of the royal family.

There is also the matter of a four-day period of national celebrations in June, marking her Platinum Jubilee, with events including a platinum party at the palace and a service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall will stay in London at the official residence of Clarence House.

Charles is said to have once conceded that Buckingham Palace should remain the official residence of the monarchy.

The Queen's decision to make Windsor Castle her permanent home means Charles and Camilla are set to be the next members of the royal family to take up residence at the palace as King and Queen Consort.

Buckingham Palace, which has been the official London residence of British sovereigns since 1837, despite its 775-room grandeur, while the Queen was in residence in Buckingham Palace, she often preferred a less grand way of life.

In 2003, Ryan Parry, an undercover tabloid reporter posing as a footman who worked at the palace for two months, revealed how her breakfast table was simply laid with cereal in Tupperware.

The palace has a whopping 775 rooms and includes a gallery, stunning gardens, and a ballroom.

Back in October 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were photographed in the throne room with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Alina.

The room was stunning and regal with red and gold furnishings and a large marble fireplace, gold-framed mirrors, and bold red carpets made the room look even more eye-catching.

The palace ballroom has similar decor to the throne room and has been used to host guests and state dinners.

The room has red carpets and a white horseshoe table in the center.