King Charles and Camilla ‘don’t want to live in Buckingham Palace’ because it’s not ‘fit for purpose in the modern world’ – and the monarch is ‘very comfortable’ in Clarence House, source claims

• Sources have claimed King Charles ‘doesn’t want’ to live in Buckingham Palace
• Insider said it is ‘not fit’ for modern life’ and it’s upkeep is ‘not sustainable’
• Comes as it emerged he and Camilla will split time between three residences

King Charles doesn’t want to move into Buckingham Palace because it’s not ‘fit’ for modern life and its upkeep is not ‘sustainable,’ a source has claimed. 

It was claimed yesterday that the sovereign, who has been living with the Queen Consort in Clarence House since 2003, doesn’t want to move to what he calls ‘the big house,’ because it is not ‘fit for purpose in the modern world.’

The Sunday Times reported that his wife Camilla, 75, and his son the Prince of Wales, who is set to one day move to Windsor Castle, echoes the Sovereign’s sentiment. 

Under new plans, Buckingham Palace would become businesslike HQ for the royals, with Charles’ team working from there. 

It comes as the Palace is halfway through a ten-year £369 million refurbishment project which is funded by the taxpayer, which is unlikely to be completed until 2027, sources close to the matter have said. 

King Charles, who has been living with the Queen Consort in Clarence House since 2003, won’t want to move to Buckingham Palace because it is not ‘fit for purpose in the modern world’, an insider has claimed (pictured with Queen Consort on October)

The insider said the monarch doesn’t think the upkeep of Buckingham Palace is sustainable, and wants to use it for business matters only 

‘I know he is no fan of “the big house”, as he calls the palace,’ a source said. ‘He doesn’t see it as a viable future home or a house that’s fit for purpose in the modern world.

‘He feels that its upkeep, both from a cost and environmental perspective, is not sustainable,’ they added, as other sources confirmed Camilla feels the same way. 

It is understood that the Sovereign will conduct affairs of state from Buckingham Palace, while keeping Clarence House as his actual home. 

The Royal Standard would be expected to fly over both Buckingham Palace and Clarence House when the King is in town.

Sources claimed that the sovereign, who has been living with the Queen Consort in Clarence House since 2003, pictured, won’t want to move to what he calls ‘the big house,’ because it is not ‘fit for purpose in the modern world’

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: ‘It is expected that the necessary works will be completed for Their Majesties to take up residence in 2027. In the interim period, the Palace will be fully utilised for official business wherever practicable.’

It was reported by The Sunday Times last year that then Prince Charles planned to open up the Royal Palaces when he became king and transform them from ‘private spaces to public places.’

Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Balmoral, Sandringham and Clarence House would remain as Royal homes but the public would have greater access under the plans. 

A source told  the Times: ‘The Prince wants to bring people in to connect with the institution. He recognises it needs to keep evolving and in the modern era people want to be able to access their palaces.’ 

At the time the news broke, King Charles was said to still be discussing the plans with other members of the royal family, including late Queen Elizabeth. 

Earlier last week, it was reported that the new King and Queen Consort Camilla are expected to split their time between up to four other castles.

A source told The Sun their primary residence will continue to be Clarence House – just 400 yards away from Buckingham Palace and where they’ve lived for 19 years.

It is understood they’ll spend three nights each week at Clarence House, two nights at Windsor Castle and weekends at Sandringham in Norfolk. 

King Charles III will not live in Buckingham Palace for up to five years and will instead wait for the completion of the £370m renovation in 2027

The new Monarch was spending at least one night a week at Windsor Castle as the Queen’s mobility problems worsened in the year before her death. 

‘Refurbishment is very far behind schedule but the Monarch should be living at Buckingham Palace,’ the source said.

‘It’s the heart of the monarchy in London, otherwise it risks becoming just a tourist attraction.

‘We effectively have a king without a palace to live in.’

The couple also have their idyllic countryside private residence, Highgrove House, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire. 

King Charles acquired the grounds in 1980 and has devoted much of his spare time and energy into making the grounds and garden around the house immaculate.   

Buckingham Palace is about halfway through its biggest refurbishment since before the Second World War, which includes new wiring, plumbing and heating.

It’s understood King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will choose to spend their weekends at Sandringham House in Norfolk (pictured)

The couple also have their idyllic countryside private residence, Highgrove House (pictured), near Tetbury in Gloucestershire. King Charles acquired the grounds in 1980 and has devoted much of his spare time and energy into making the grounds and garden around the house immaculate

Wallpaper in some of the rooms, including the Yellow Drawing Room in the East Wing, will be ‘conserved and preserved’ by experts before being rehung.

The bill for the refurbishment will be met by taxpayers via the Sovereign Grant – the annual fee paid by the Government to the monarch – with a third of the cash set aside for maintaining Royal palaces.

The project involves ten miles of water pipes, 6,500 plug sockets, 500 pieces of sanitary ware (toilet, basins and the like) and 20 miles of skirting board being replaced after experts warned there was ‘serious risk’ of fire and water damage to the palace and the priceless works of art it contains due to palace’s perilous state of repair.

It is estimated that the benefits of the upgrade, including longer summer opening hours, more private tours and savings due to the improvements, could be around £3.4 million each year.

The work needed reflects the age of the building, which was first used as a royal palace by Queen Victoria and had not been decorated since 1952, the year the Queen ascended the throne.

While the King will not call Buckingham Palace home for the duration of the renovation, it’s understood he will continue to use available spaces for work and meetings. 

A two-minute video shared on the Royal Family Instagram account in 2020 revealed how 19th century wallpaper is being removed ‘piece by piece’ from the Yellow Drawing Room as part of work in the East Wing. Pictured, the Yellow Drawing Room in 2018 ahead of the work

The Yellow Drawing Room was emptied as part of the decant of the East Wing ahead of the restoration work. Pictured, the room in 2020. The wallpaper has been partially removed

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