‘Charles to turn Palace into hotel’
Prince Charles has plans to move the Royal Family out of Buckingham Palace, and transform it into a hotel and events centre when he becomes the King, says a book.
According to sources quoted in the upcoming book penned by BBC broadcaster Andrew Marr, the 62-year-old Prince wants to put his own stamp on monarchy by formulating a “detailed plan for a first year of change under King Charles III”.
In fact, the author has claimed in the biography of the Queen that Prince Charles has already distanced himself from the Monarch court in the capital.
“His succession would be followed by a dramatic clearing out of the current Buckingham Palace staff and the arrival of his own team. One of the more dramatic ideas that has been discussed is for the Royal Family in his reign to leave the Buckingham Palace entirely, leaving it as a kind of grand official government hotel and centre for events.
“The king would base himself not in London but at Windsor Castle,” the Daily Express newspaper quoted Marr as saying in his book.
However, palace sources have dismissed it as “complete speculation”. A Clarence House spokesman said: “There have been no discussions or plans or meetings at all about this matter, or any plans made about such future arrangements.”
According to Marr’s book, Prince Charles, who has been heir to the throne since 1952, when his mother became Queen after the death of George VI, has confided in aides that he wonders if he will outlive his mother, who has in the past ruled out abdicating in favour of her eldest son.
However, one source told Marr that abdication has been discussed and added: “I wouldn’t actually rule it out, at the end of the day. If she got to a point where she was very old and very tired it could come to be the sensible view. A lot depends on the public.” — PTI
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