General Discussion about Royal Residences 2: Sep 2022 -

[tommy100]

I agree the King was always really going to give this up but I do think (completely selfishly as a proud Welsh citizen) that its a mistake for the first property they announce he is giving up to be his only Welsh one - especially while he is on holiday in property in Romania and while having multiple residences in England and Scotland. It is bad optics.

I agree William should have somewhere in Wales.

 

[Prinsara]

For whatever reason, William clearly didn't want to take this even though he owns it, and he isn't planning to live anywhere else in Wales in the immediate future.

Optics and selfishness aside, I'm not sure what else HM could have easily let go of except Highgrove, and emotionally, he's obviously not ready and can't especially be blamed.

Perhaps he's in Romania right now because that will be next to go and he wanted one last trip there.

 

[FigTree]

For whatever reason, William clearly didn't want to take this even though he owns it, and he isn't planning to live anywhere else in Wales in the immediate future.

Optics and selfishness aside, I'm not sure what else HM could have easily let go of except Highgrove, and emotionally, he's obviously not ready and can't especially be blamed.

Perhaps he's in Romania right now because that will be next to go and he wanted one last trip there.

The Romanian property is commercially available and people can stay there. It makes money. As do other properties on the Welsh property already. He will just now be renting out the house.

This article is quite the hyperbole.

 

[muriel]

https://archive.ph/lyT7e

100% the wrong decision over which property to ditch first IMO. CH and BP in London, Windsor and Highgrove, Birkhall and Balmoral ...currently spending time at property in Romania...yet the only royal property in Wales gets ditched.

We do not know the King's plan for the various royal properties. I am sure more information will be released in the months to come.

 

[muriel]

I think the mistake is not by the King in giving up his most-recently acquired but in William having nowhere in Wales, however much he thinks staying in hotels "will help the local economy".

The Duchy will continue to own the property. William will be free to use it as often as he would like to in the future, so I do not think he needs to necessarily have a specific home in Wales. As is well known, Charles himself did not have a property in Wales till not that long ago.

 

[tommy100]

True, but Charles said he regretted not having a Welsh property sooner.

Hopefully more news about a change about in royal residences will come soon

 

[FigTree]

True, but Charles said he regretted not having a Welsh property sooner.

Hopefully more news about a change about in royal residences will come soon

I don’t think there will be much. Apart from Andrew I see no one being moved from their homes.

The big change I think will be more opening of the palaces. As in Sandringham and Balmoral and BP permanently.

 

[tommy100]

Yes sorry that is what I meant. I suspect we'll hear Balmoral being open more (maybe just closed summer for the wider RF to still use). I also wonder if we'll hear something about Highgrove in time.

 

[Curryong]

I do think that the castle at Balmoral (more than the actual estate) is likely to become more of a white elephant than most of the other properties. The RF only used it in August, September, in the late Queen’s time as we know, and the rest of the year it remained empty.

It’s an old house dating back to the 1840s and maintenance costs on it must be expensive. And the King has Birkhall.

Tourists would certainly come and tour the place in the Spring and summer but would there be many tourists going there for any exhibitions etc in the depths of an icy Scottish winter?

 

[tommy100]

It is tricky because from a purely business point of view it makes sense to open up Balmoral in the summer as Charles can use Birkhall whenever he wants. But then what about the wider family? It would seem quite cold IMO to prevent them from being able to visit, especially as its where the late Queen passed. In that interview with Canadian TV Anne commented how hard it was leaving Balmoral every year.

There is Craigowan Lodge so I guess they could use that in turn - a week or so each for Andrew, Edward, Anne and families. I've always had the impression the family stay in the main castle but maybe there are enough other properties they could open the Castle to the public and the family could still visit, staying in other properties. They did this in Covid times when QE2 and Philip stayed in the Castle and the family were said to be staying on the estate. There is the cottage W&C use which I guess could be used as well.

 

[muriel]

It is tricky because from a purely business point of view it makes sense to open up Balmoral in the summer as Charles can use Birkhall whenever he wants. But then what about the wider family? It would seem quite cold IMO to prevent them from being able to visit, especially as its where the late Queen passed. In that interview with Canadian TV Anne commented how hard it was leaving Balmoral every year.

There is Craigowan Lodge so I guess they could use that in turn - a week or so each for Andrew, Edward, Anne and families. I've always had the impression the family stay in the main castle but maybe there are enough other properties they could open the Castle to the public and the family could still visit, staying in other properties. They did this in Covid times when QE2 and Philip stayed in the Castle and the family were said to be staying on the estate. There is the cottage W&C use which I guess could be used as well.

There are several properties on the Balmoral estate that family members could use, if they wanted to open the castle up for public visitors. That may mean that they get spread out across various houses rather than all staying in one house, but it is entirely possible that may have already been happening.

 

[muriel]

I do think that the castle at Balmoral (more than the actual estate) is likely to become more of a white elephant than most of the other properties. The RF only used it in August, September, in the late Queen’s time as we know, and the rest of the year it remained empty.

It’s an old house dating back to the 1840s and maintenance costs on it must be expensive. And the King has Birkhall.

Tourists would certainly come and tour the place in the Spring and summer but would it het many tourists going there for any exhibitions etc in the depths of an icy Scottish winter?

I think it is entirely possible that William and Catherine move a part of Windsor Castle, and leave some of it for C&C.

Windsor is used for a lot of entertaining, a lot of which is not in the public domain. I am sure it will continue to be used like that.

 

[muriel]

The big change I think will be more opening of the palaces. As in Sandringham and Balmoral and BP permanently.

Sandringham House is already open to the public for large parts of the year. They may open for longer, and let the public see more of the house.

 

[tommy100]

There are several properties on the Balmoral estate that family members could use, if they wanted to open the castle up for public visitors. That may mean that they get spread out across various houses rather than all staying in one house, but it is entirely possible that may have already been happening.

TBH that may be preferable when you are dealing with siblings - Charles, Anne, Edward, Andrew - rather than them all going to stay with their parents at the main castle.

 

[Chamberlain]

Will W&K be able to justify keeping Sandringham and Balmoral? QEII spent all her holidays there but they like taking foreign holidays too.

 

[royal-blue]

I see no problem with Charles giving up his Welsh home. Realistically he is going to have very little time available to stay there. Would William and Kate be willing to take on the lease themselves? It would be good for them to have a Welsh residence but perhaps wouldn't look good to be taking on yet another large home so soon.

 

[SirGyamfi1]

Will W&K be able to justify keeping Sandringham and Balmoral? QEII spent all her holidays there but they like taking foreign holidays too.

Sandringham and Balmoral are private properties, not state or Crown properties.

Yes sorry that is what I meant. I suspect we'll hear Balmoral being open more (maybe just closed summer for the wider RF to still use). I also wonder if we'll hear something about Highgrove in time.

High grove is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall

 

[tommy100]

Yes it is, but Charles could give up his lease on it

 

[SirGyamfi1]

Private property should not enter this discussion. The Royal family, just like any citizen, has no obligation in ''giving them to the nation''.


The crown estates should be made even more accessible to the public I agree, but I guess the King does too.


I do think St. James and KP are redundant as royal homes, so one of them should be handed to the "Royal Historic Palaces" org for good.

HRP already manages the properties KP and organises exhibitions

Yes it is, but Charles could give up his lease on it

But Charles isn’t the owner of the property and isn’t the current Duke of Cornwall. Plus I think he likes Highgrove so if he will keep his lease, up to him.

 

[Chamberlain]

Sandringham and Balmoral are private properties, not state or Crown properties.

They could still find them surplus to requirements.

 

[muriel]

Will W&K be able to justify keeping Sandringham and Balmoral? QEII spent all her holidays there but they like taking foreign holidays too.

I suspect Balmoral Castle will be opened up to the public for large parts of the year, as Sandringham House already is. The rest of the estate will be run as an agricultural and livestock establishment, as it already is. The family will always keep homes on each of the estates (Birkhall and Anmer) for their private use.

Would William and Kate be willing to take on the lease themselves?

They don't need to. The property is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall. Most of the property is available to rent as short lets from the Duchy already. I suspect the part of the property used by C&C would also soon be added to the properties available to rent. If William & Catherine wanted to, they could always use any of those properties.

It would be good for them to have a Welsh residence but perhaps wouldn't look good to be taking on yet another large home so soon.

I expect W&C to be based at Windsor / London, with a country home at Anmer. I suspect they will travel extensively around Wales and Cornwall, but are unlikely to have a home there.

The property in question is not a large home, C&C occupied a modest 3 bedroom home in Wales. As I mentioned, the rest were holiday lets.

 

[royal-blue]

There is still a considerable number of residences used by the BRF. I expect the leases on Tamarisk and the Romanian property to be ended next. The Sussexes appear to have vacated their property. Andrew appears to be staying put. I expect the Wales family will move into Windsor Castle soon to free up Adelaide.

 

[FigTree]

There is still a considerable number of residences used by the BRF. I expect the leases on Tamarisk and the Romanian property to be ended next. The Sussexes appear to have vacated their property. Andrew appears to be staying put. I expect the Wales family will move into Windsor Castle soon to free up Adelaide.

Charles home in Romania is a commercial property. He has no need to do anything with it. Why would Will and Kate move? They already have many three properties. I wouldn’t add another and it wouldn’t be good for the children to grow up in what is a permanent tourist trap. They moved from Kensington to get away from that and probably it’s their children’s teenage years in consideration. Where they are far better off being away from prying eyes.

 

[muriel]

Charles home in Romania is a commercial property. He has no need to do anything with it.

I agree, the property in Romania is owned by the Duchy, and is available to let commercially for most of the year. No need to part with it.

Why would Will and Kate move? They already have many three properties. I wouldn’t add another and it wouldn’t be good for the children to grow up in what is a permanent tourist trap. They moved from Kensington to get away from that and probably it’s their children’s teenage years in consideration. Where they are far better off being away from prying eyes.

Should the move to Windsor Castle happen, it will replace Adelaide Cottage as a Wales' home. Windsor is a large building, with no royal living their for any length of the time. The King & Queen seems to prefer to spend their weekends at Highgrove.

I think the Wales family could make good use of the private apartments at Windsor, and use it as their main family home. The property is large enough to leave enough space for C&C to use it as and when they need to.

The private apartments are also very private, and certainly not a goldfish bowl. There are vast private gardens. Access to the private apartments is available away from the quadrangle, which visitors to the state apartments get to see. In all their years regularly using Windsor, QE2 and family were rarely seen there, unless they wanted to be seen!

 

[FigTree]

I agree, the property in Romania is owned by the Duchy, and is available to let commercially for most of the year. No need to part with it.



Should the move to Windsor Castle happen, it will replace Adelaide Cottage as a Wales' home. Windsor is a large building, with no royal living their for any length of the time. The King & Queen seems to prefer to spend their weekends at Highgrove.

I think the Wales family could make good use of the private apartments at Windsor, and use it as their main family home. The property is large enough to leave enough space for C&C to use it as and when they need to.

The private apartments are also very private, and certainly not a goldfish bowl. There are vast private gardens. Access to the private apartments is available away from the quadrangle, which visitors to the state apartments get to see. In all their years regularly using Windsor, QE2 and family were rarely seen there, unless they wanted to be seen!

They are much better off where they are. There is nothing great about living in a grand apartment in a Castle. May sound great but to them it’s just a home. And ai would much rather have my own house in a Uber private area of the estate.

 

[doro]

What's the future of Clarence House

 

[muriel]

What's the future of Clarence House

In the near term, I suspect C&C will continue to live in it till the renovations at BP are complete. That could be at least 5 years away. Given they will be c80 by then, they may choose to continue to live at Clarence House, and use BP as the office only.

In time, I think George may live at Clarence House.

 

[royal-blue]

Is there any necessity for Charles to actually have an actual residence at Windsor Castle? One of the simplest ways of reducing his number of residences is probably not to acquire new ones.

 

[MARG]

Windsor, like Buckingham Palace, and Holyrude Palace belong to the government.

 

[royal-blue]

Windsor, like Buckingham Palace, and Holyrude Palace belong to the government.

Both are owned by the reigning monarch in right of the Crown. The question was in relation to the exceedingly large number of residences which Charles now has the use of.