Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, is considering uprooting the Royal family from Buckingham Palace and turning the majestic building into a museum when he becomes king, according to a new book.
BBC broadcaster and author, Andrew Marr, claims that the Prince is considering taking his court to Windsor Castle in a “dramatic” bid to put his stamp on the British monarchy. According to Marr, the palace would subsequently be remodeled as a historic hotel and events center for the Government’s use. The Queen, 85, has considered abdicating her throne to her son, Prince Charles. However, the book notes that Marr’s sources said it is something that she would see as “reneging on her duty and would only be considered if she became too old and tired to continue.”
In Marr’s book, The Diamond Queen, he says it is more likely that Prince Charles would take the title of Regent Prince, rather than king. As Regent Prince, he would manage the Queen’s engagements and read the daily red box of government papers, which is only one aspect of the Queen’s work that goes largely unseen.
Prince Charles, 62, has his own doubts about whether he might outlive the Queen to become King Charles III. The Queen remains in good health and maintains a timetable of official visits, which would exhaust even a younger person. Just last month reports indicated that the Duke of Cambridge said he had regularly tired to persuade the Queen to slow her demanding schedule of official duties but said she “won’t have anything of it,” adding that she fully intended to continue well beyond the jubilee. Marr claims that, “Prince Charles long ago distanced himself, physically and emotionally, from the Queen’s court.”
“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 Buckingham Palace entirely, leaving it as a kind of grand official government hotel and center for events,” writes Marr.
A spokesman for Clarence House denied that there were any plans for an abdication or for any move away from Buckingham Palace, noting, “There have been no meetings here or any plans made about such future arrangements.”
Palace officials said the only plan in place for the Queen’s death was a 10-day emergency response to oversee the monarchy’s immediate transition.
Marr is currently working on three TV programs for next June’s Diamond Jubilee. The Diamond Queen: Elizabeth II and Her People will be published by Macmillan on October 27.
Source: The Telegraph
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