Community Chat

[Oznell]

One of the down sides for me, were I ascending to the throne (ha),  would be leaving Clarence House, the Prince of Wales' residence in London.  He inherited it from his grandmother, the Queen Mum.  She adored it and lived there for decades;  and even before that, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip had lived there briefly.

But it's very much associated with the Queen Mother.  It's always seemed so much more "liveable",  than huge, drafty Buckingham Palace.  Apparently though, there will be renovations there before the new monarch has to move in.

Here's the entrance hall at Clarence House, with its portraits and porcelain.

The family Christmas tree in the hall:

Family photos make things personal.

The "Lancaster Room",  right off the entrance hall,  which is a reception room for visitors.

The "Morning Room",  which was apparently the Queen Mother's favorite when she lived there before Charles.  It does look like her, with its soft pastels!   Cheerful.  When Prince Philip lived there, he used it as his study.

They seem to like to bring visitors here too.

A good spot for a little chat.  I can just imagine, when the very social Queen Mother lived here, the jubilant sherry parties she must have hosted in the Morning Room.

The Library, looking into the dining room.  Here they've got a less formal table all set.  I'll have milk, but no lumps in my cuppa, if you please!

This must be the other side, looking back into the Morning Room.  Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother's portrait is on the left, and you can just glimpse Queen Elizabeth II's portrait on the right.

A close-up of the Queen's portrait.

The Dining Room--

This is called the "Horse Corridor", reflecting the Queen Mother's interests:

This is the Garden Room, b/c it opens to Clarence House's lovely gardens.  That incredible tapestry brings the outside in too.

All the family memorabilia around, and the piano with music at the ready, etc.,  gives it a lived-in feeling..

What an amazing painting of Noah's Ark, by Bassano, in this room.  It would take hours, going around and examining all the goodies in these rooms!

They didn't say which room this was, but I was struck by that mint green wall--  so pretty!

Looking out at the Parterre Garden:

[grandma r]

@Oznell. Thank you for the lovely photos.  A beautiful home indeed.

[twinsister]

@Oznell - So beautiful!  Does this mean that William - now the Prince of Wales and Kate will be moving in since he has inherited the title?

Thanks for posting these photos.

[Patriot3]

I just can't imagine living in so much splendor, but I bet I could do it!   Beautiful!

[Love my grandkids]

@Oznell The woman I recall being referred to as the Queen Mother was Queen Elizabeth's mother. Is that who you are referring to in these photos?

[Icegoddess]

@Patriot3 I wouldn't be comfortable living like that.  I would enjoy the gardens though, but I'd want to work in them.  

[golding76]

Love the photos!  Love your luscious descriptions, especially "jubilant sherry parties."

Thank you.

[millieshops]

@Patriot3   You could learn to live in the royal home -  although when I think of what the media did to those who married into the monarchy, I don't believe I'd want to try.

Some luxuries arw priced far above my desire to pay!

[Oznell]

That's a great question, @twinsister .   I don't think that William and Kate have to, now that he's the Prince of Wales.  But I don't know what they plan.  They do already have I think, an apartment in Kensington palace, and a house on the grounds of Windsor--  Adelaide Cottage?  It's so hard to keep up!

Clarence House is one of those royal residences that seems very popular with this family.   Elizabeth and Philip lived in it when they were a young couple;  then, the Queen Mother lived in it forever, till her death in the early 2000's,  then Charles moved in.  She and Charles were close.  I somehow have a vague idea that his grandmother and he both wanted him to have it, upon her passing... 

That's right, @Love my grandkids ,   whenever you hear the term the "Queen Mother",  that refers to Queen Elizabeth II's mother, whose name was also Elizabeth-- the former Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.  

[SharkE]

Seems like I read some place where the King was going to turn some house into a museum.