Clarence House, London
by Chris O (GFDL)
Clarence House is a royal residence in London. It is situated in Pall Mall, sharing a garden with St James's Palace. For nearly 50 years, from 1952 to 2002, it was the home of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, but is now the official residence of Charles, the Prince of Wales and Camilia, the Duchess of Cornwall, as well as Prince William and Prince Henry. Clarence House is open to the public for two months each summer, with tickets having to be booked in advance.
Clarence House was built between 1825 and 1827. It has four stories, not counting the attics and basements, and is faced in pale stucco. It was designed by John Nash, the famous 19th century architect, but due to the damage in World War II, little remain's of the original structure. It was commissioned by King William IV, who was known as the Duke of Clarence before he inherited the throne in 1830. He preferred to live there rather than at the official St James's Palace, which he found too cramped. Clarence House passed to his sister Princess Augusta Sophia, and after her death in 1840, to Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, the mother of Queen Victoria. It became the home of Victoria's second son and fourth child, Alfred, Duke of Saze-Coburg and Gotha, and Duke of Edinburgh until his death in 1942.
Clarence House suffered much damaged during World War II. It became the headquarters of the Red Cross and the St John Ambulance Brigade during that time. Then, it was given to Princess Elizabeth and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh. Princess Anne was born there in 1950. After the death of King George VI, the Queen Mother moved there with Princess Margaret in 1953. Princess Margaret eventually moved to an apartment in Kensington Palace.
The Prince of Wales moved into Clarence House in 2003, after the death of his grandmother the Queen Mother. Before that, the house underwent massive refurbishment. It was completely re-wired, and the major rooms redecorated.
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