King Charles to Move Royal Headquarters to Windsor to Support William and Kate’s Big Move: Butler
Former royal butler Grant Harrold believes that King Charles, a traditionalist, favors Windsor Castle over Buckingham Palace.
King Charles is reportedly planning a major monarchy shake-up to align with Prince William and Kate Middleton’s upcoming move to Forest Lodge. Former royal butler Grant Harrold believes the monarch is considering making Windsor Castle the royal family’s central hub instead of Buckingham Palace. Harrold suggested that this decision may be influenced by the late Queen Elizabeth’s preference for Windsor as her main residence, as well as the decade-long renovations at the Palace, which won't be completed until 2027.
The former royal butler pointed out the reduced time Charles spends at Buckingham Palace, preferring other royal residences. He argued that Windsor is becoming more of an ‘official’ residence for the King, as it's where all the ‘big events’ take place. He told GB News, "I think Windsor will become their full base going forward. The late Queen Elizabeth II made Windsor Castle her official residence after the COVID-19 pandemic... The King is hardly using Buckingham Palace at all now. While Buckingham Palace is under renovation, I think there’s more to it than that. Being a traditionalist, the King loves Windsor."
Harrold continued, "The Prince and Princess of Wales moving in very nearby adds to this theory, especially as it’s said to be their ‘forever home’. I think William will use Windsor as his official base as well. They will, of course, still use London for certain events, but I think it will become like Palaces elsewhere in Europe, where it's more of a visitor and historical place." William and Middleton are set to move out of Adelaide Cottage later this year.
Harrold's claims about Charles’s lack of interest in Buckingham Palace come just a few months after reports surfaced that the King is allegedly not planning to move back there post-renovations. As per royal custom, the monarch should live in Buckingham Palace. However, Charles and Camilla have chosen to reside in Clarence House, making the King the first sovereign in about 200 years to not live at Buckingham Palace. Reflecting on Charles’s alleged decision, royal expert Camilla explained, "One concession to his health and advancing years that has been made, however, is that it appears unlikely he will ever move from Clarence House... after the restoration is completed in three year's time."
Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales are looking forward to moving into their ‘forever home,’ Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park. An insider revealed that William and Middleton are hoping for a 'fresh start' after a 'difficult time' at Adelaide Cottage. They told The Sun, "Windsor has become their home...Moving gives them an opportunity for a fresh start and a new chapter; an opportunity to leave some of the more unhappy memories behind."
