King Charles 'doesn’t want to live at Buckingham Palace'

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King Charles is said to dislike the idea of living at Buckingham Palace.

The 74-year-old monarch, who was crowned at Westminster Abbey on May 6, has access to more than 30 privately owned residences, but reportedly favours smaller options than the iconic London residence.

Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine and the author of multiple royal biographies, told The Times: “Maybe in the end he will have to move into Buckingham Palace, but I don’t think he wants to.

“Buckingham Palace is so huge and impersonal and red, with red carpets and curtains. It’s not his style.

“He may decide that it should be available to the public all year round.”

Hugo Vickers, a royal historian and author of a biography on the Queen Mother, added Charles would run his office out of the palace and use it for state occasions but had no desire to live there.

He added to the Times: “I think you’ll find that he’ll stay at Clarence House, which even (Queen Elizabeth) wanted to do, but Winston Churchill made her go to Buckingham Palace.”

A royal source also told the newspaper Charles preferred Birkhall on the Balmoral estate which has about eight bedrooms, to Balmoral Castle – where the Queen died in September aged 96 – which has 52.

They added: “He absolutely loves Birkhall. I would be amazed if he abandoned that. I think it’s far more likely that he will stay at Balmoral when there are prime ministerial visits but treat it like an office.”

Charles is expected to continue his tradition of spending summers at the Castle of Mey in Caithness, Scotland.

It is usually open to the public, but is closed to visitors between July 23 and Aug. 9 this year.

Charles recently travelled to Sandringham where he is overseeing the construction of a new formal garden.

He can also choose between Windsor Castle, Highgrove and Sandringham in England and is said to love Highgrove.