Prince Charles may not "live" at Buckingham Palace - and why not?

[It was, of course, where His late Majesty the King lived during his reign until he moved to Windsor Castle during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he eventually chose to reside permanently. (It was thought that the King and Queen Camilla would move into the palace when King Charles became monarch on September 8, but according to the Mirror, that will not happen "in the foreseeable future" (if ever). The couple will remain at Clarence House, a short walk from the palace along The Mall, while they are in London, as the palace is undergoing major renovations that could last until 2027. The project will cost more than £369 million.

For this reason, the Sunday Times (opens in new tab) reports that Prince Charles and Camilla "have no plans" to move out of Clarence House until the renovations are completed, but will conduct their engagement from Clarence House, as seen in the first six weeks of their reign.

During this period, when Her Majesty is in London, the magazine reports that the Royal Standard will be hoisted at both Buckingham Palace and Clarence House. [Sources who know Prince Charles say that he is "very comfortable" at Clarence House, where he has lived for many years, with one person adding, "He does not believe that this [Buckingham Palace] is a house he can live in in the future, or one suitable for modern society. He feels that maintaining Buckingham Palace is not sustainable, either in terms of cost or in terms of the environment."

Buckingham Palace itself commented on the matter, saying, "Their Majesties are expected to complete the necessary works to make the Palace their home in 2027. In the interim, the Palace will be fully utilized for official business as much as possible," commented the Palace.

The palace renovations were announced in 2016 and included repairs to electrical wiring, radiators, and skirting boards. The palace will have new floorboards and 78 (!) of the bathrooms will be replaced. Buckingham Palace is one of the most iconic buildings in the world and this program is designed to extend its useful life by another 50 years."