WEBVTT
1
00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:14.960
Calaruga Shark Media. Hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue Game,
2
00:00:15.039 --> 00:00:17.879
your host, Mark Francis. This will be a busy week
3
00:00:17.960 --> 00:00:21.280
for the Royals. Tomorrow, Kate is expected to appear. Also
4
00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:24.839
out tomorrow the German documentary about Harry and Meghan. Then
5
00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:27.480
on Wednesday, Meghan is expected to attend a glamorous Hollywood
6
00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:30.719
event in Beverly Hills celebrating her friend Tyler Perry, who
7
00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:33.960
is being honored with the Paiely Honors Award. Harry will
8
00:00:33.960 --> 00:00:36.200
be in New York, where he's scheduled to speak at
9
00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:41.479
the Times Deal Book Conference. Friday is Kate's Christmas Concert.
10
00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:45.439
Reports of King Charles plans to vacate Buckingham Palace as
11
00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:49.280
his primary residents have resurfaced, despite denials from Clarence House
12
00:00:49.320 --> 00:00:53.280
and Buckingham Palace in the past. In twenty seventeen, Clarence
13
00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:56.159
House firmly rejected claims made by The Sunday Times, stating
14
00:00:56.679 --> 00:00:59.920
Buckingham Palace will remain the official residence of the Moner.
15
00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:05.079
The same stance was reiterated five years later. However, Royal
16
00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:08.640
insiders suggest the King and Queen Camilla prefer the comforts
17
00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:12.640
of Clarence House, their longtime London home, located just a
18
00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:16.040
short walk from Buckingham Palace. A royal source told The Times,
19
00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:18.200
I know he is no fan of the Big House,
20
00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:20.200
as he calls the Palace. He doesn't see it as
21
00:01:20.200 --> 00:01:22.760
a viable future home or a house that's fit for
22
00:01:22.799 --> 00:01:26.040
a purpose in the modern world. Another insider noted that
23
00:01:26.120 --> 00:01:29.359
Queen Camilla is also reluctant to move into Buckingham Palace,
24
00:01:29.400 --> 00:01:32.959
adding to the speculation. William and Kate, who reside at
25
00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:36.719
Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor Estate and Amner Hall in Norfolk,
26
00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:41.519
share a similar perspective, reportedly finding Buckingham Palace unsuitable for
27
00:01:41.640 --> 00:01:45.560
modern family life. Since eighteen thirty seven, Buckingham Palace has
28
00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:48.480
served as the official London residence of British sovereigns. It
29
00:01:48.519 --> 00:01:51.359
was Queen Elizabeth the Second's primary residence until twenty twenty,
30
00:01:51.560 --> 00:01:55.319
when she relocated to Windsor Castle during the COVID nineteenth lockdowns.
31
00:01:55.480 --> 00:01:58.239
Reflecting on this gradual shift, a friend of the king remarked,
32
00:01:58.519 --> 00:02:00.519
there was a time when people said, if the lead
33
00:02:00.599 --> 00:02:03.200
Queen doesn't live at Buckingham Palace, then what's the point
34
00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:06.560
of Buckingham Palace? The King is mindful that it will
35
00:02:06.599 --> 00:02:10.080
continue to be monarchy headquarters, with the advantage that he
36
00:02:10.120 --> 00:02:12.240
can open it up and make it even more accessible
37
00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:16.000
to the public in the future. It's win win. State
38
00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:18.560
visits will shift to Windsor Castle until the second half
39
00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:21.919
of twenty twenty seven due to extensive renovations of Buckingham Palace.
40
00:02:22.199 --> 00:02:26.960
The refurbishment involves phased closures of Buckingham Palace's iconic rooms,
41
00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:30.840
beginning with the White Drawing Room, the Music Room, Blue
42
00:02:30.919 --> 00:02:34.199
Drawing Room and State Dining Room on the Garden side.
43
00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:37.719
Renovations will then extend to the Ballroom traditionally used for
44
00:02:37.719 --> 00:02:40.919
state banquets, and finished with state rooms on the quad side,
45
00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:44.479
including the Throne Room and Green Drawing Room. Despite this,
46
00:02:44.599 --> 00:02:47.800
public tours of the palace's state rooms and the annual
47
00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:51.639
Summer Exhibition will continue, with construction paused each summer to
48
00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:55.080
accommodate these events. This year, for the first time and
49
00:02:55.080 --> 00:02:57.080
it's one hundred and seventy five year history, the East
50
00:02:57.080 --> 00:03:01.120
wing of Buckingham Palace, including the Center Room and famous Balcony,
51
00:03:01.560 --> 00:03:04.280
was opened to the public. It attracted a record six
52
00:03:04.360 --> 00:03:08.719
hundred five thousand visitors. King Charles's approved expanded access for
53
00:03:08.759 --> 00:03:12.240
next summer, reflecting his intent to increase public access to
54
00:03:12.439 --> 00:03:16.879
Royal residences while preserving Buckingham Palace's role as the monarchy's headquarters.
55
00:03:17.159 --> 00:03:20.520
As King, Charles has continued his vision to transform royal
56
00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:24.400
residences from private places to public spaces. Earlier this year,
57
00:03:24.439 --> 00:03:27.639
he opened seven rooms at Balmoral Castle to the public,
58
00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:31.479
including the drawing room where Queen Elizabeth Iwond was last photographed.
59
00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:34.400
All thirty four hundred tickets for these one hundred pounds
60
00:03:34.439 --> 00:03:38.280
bespoke tours sold out within two hours. Funding for the
61
00:03:38.280 --> 00:03:41.159
final phase of Buckingham Palace's renovations will come from a
62
00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:45.960
temporary increase in the Sovereign grant. The holiday spirit has
63
00:03:45.960 --> 00:03:48.400
officially arrived at Windsor Castle, where the state apartments are
64
00:03:48.439 --> 00:03:52.479
adorned with breathtaking Christmas decorations, including a stunning twenty foot
65
00:03:52.560 --> 00:03:56.520
high Nordman fir tree in Saint George's Hall, sourced from
66
00:03:56.560 --> 00:04:00.280
Windsor Great Park. This impressive centerpiece will be replanted after
67
00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:03.879
the festivities, according to the Royal Collection Trust. The tree
68
00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:07.120
is topped with a Garter star and the hall's ceiling
69
00:04:07.319 --> 00:04:10.120
featuring the shields of the Knights of the garter provides
70
00:04:10.159 --> 00:04:14.919
a historic backdrop for the festive display. Another equally festive tree,
71
00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:18.160
a fifteen foot high Nordman fir, graces the Crimson Drawing
72
00:04:18.199 --> 00:04:21.399
Room as part of the semi State Rooms. This space
73
00:04:21.480 --> 00:04:24.879
is both an opulent setting for official entertaining and open
74
00:04:24.920 --> 00:04:27.959
to the public during the winter months. Christmas trees have
75
00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:30.439
a storied history in the British Royal family, dating back
76
00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:34.040
to Queen Charlotte, who introduced yu trees to the tradition.
77
00:04:34.519 --> 00:04:38.639
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert later popularized the Christmas tree
78
00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:42.319
in Britain, decorating it themselves at Windsor Castle with candles
79
00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:46.560
and gingerbread, a tradition fondly remembered by Royal Collection curator
80
00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:51.160
Catherine Jones. Beyond the towering trees, decorations extend throughout the
81
00:04:51.160 --> 00:04:54.480
Grand Staircase, Waterloo Chamber and for the first time, Queen
82
00:04:54.519 --> 00:04:58.879
Mary's Dolls House. The Miniature Marvel, celebrating its centenary this year,
83
00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:03.319
now features tiny Christmas decorations, including a miniature tree, a
84
00:05:03.319 --> 00:05:06.959
delightful nod to the festive season. The Royal family's own
85
00:05:07.040 --> 00:05:10.800
Christmas traditions remained steadfast, as Prince Harry wrote in spare.
86
00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:14.680
They exchange gifts on Christmas Eve at Sandringham, where suddenly
87
00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:17.279
everyone began opening at the same time. A free for
88
00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:20.439
all with scores of family members talking at once and
89
00:05:20.519 --> 00:05:24.160
pulling at bows and tearing it wrapping paper. Visitors can
90
00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:28.480
enjoy Windsor Castle's Christmas displays through January six. Pallas intrigue
91
00:05:28.519 --> 00:05:34.000
me right back. From time to time we notice a
92
00:05:34.120 --> 00:05:37.920
narrative being floated. Thus, a recent flurry of articles about
93
00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:41.839
the royals Christmas plans have us suspicious. The plans are
94
00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:45.360
shaping up to be a mix of cherished traditions, modern adjustments,
95
00:05:45.360 --> 00:05:47.639
and the inevitable dose of drama that comes with their
96
00:05:47.720 --> 00:05:50.959
high profile lives. Charles and Camilla planned to host a
97
00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:54.360
family centric Christmas at Sandringham, maintaining many of the customs
98
00:05:54.439 --> 00:05:57.000
upheld by the late Queen, such as gift exchanges on
99
00:05:57.079 --> 00:06:00.279
Christmas Eve and a hearty luncheon after the church on
100
00:06:00.319 --> 00:06:04.399
Christmas Day. However, charles moral laxed approach allows guests to
101
00:06:04.519 --> 00:06:07.920
prioritize other commitments without staying for the full three days,
102
00:06:08.360 --> 00:06:12.720
a departure from his parents' stricter expectations. Camilla, now firmly
103
00:06:12.759 --> 00:06:15.720
in charge of hosting ensures the festivities include a beautifully
104
00:06:15.720 --> 00:06:19.360
decorated tree in a welcoming atmosphere for their blended family.
105
00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:22.519
The King will juggle his festive duties with his ever
106
00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:26.639
present work commitments, echoing his mother's tireless dedication. Former royal
107
00:06:26.680 --> 00:06:29.720
butler Grant Harold noted even on Christmas Day, he'll be
108
00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:33.000
working on and off. He doesn't stop thinking about work.
109
00:06:33.240 --> 00:06:35.439
Children will be at the heart of the celebrations, where
110
00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:39.480
the Kings and Camilla's combined ten grandchildren bringing plenty of
111
00:06:39.560 --> 00:06:43.639
energy to the festivities. Royal expert Duncan Larcom highlights the
112
00:06:43.720 --> 00:06:46.639
chaos and joy their presence brings, saying kids are a
113
00:06:46.639 --> 00:06:50.079
great healer and a great distraction. As for the narrative,
114
00:06:50.240 --> 00:06:52.279
we asked out Royal inside a Deep Crown about it.
115
00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:57.519
Deep Crown tells us when multiple outlets simultaneously carry detailed
116
00:06:57.560 --> 00:07:00.560
royal stories like this, it typically signals a co ordinated
117
00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:04.199
communications effort from the Palace. In this case, the narrative
118
00:07:04.279 --> 00:07:08.079
being carefully crafted, appears to emphasize both continuity and evolution,
119
00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:12.519
showing Charles as a dutiful son maintaining beloved traditions while
120
00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:16.199
thoughtfully modernizing them. The mentions of him working through Christmas
121
00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:18.600
just like his mother did directly position him as a
122
00:07:18.600 --> 00:07:23.040
worthy success at carrying forward Elizabeth's legacy of dedication. The
123
00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:26.639
extensive focus on children, family healing, and blended celebrations is
124
00:07:26.680 --> 00:07:31.279
particularly telling by highlighting the joyful chaos of grandchildren Camilla's
125
00:07:31.319 --> 00:07:34.680
successful integration of family. The Palace is painting a picture
126
00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:38.000
of a warm, functional, modern family, one that's moving forward
127
00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:42.319
despite well publicized fractures. The brief, matter of fact mention
128
00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:45.360
of Harry and Meghan's absence serves to normalize their non
129
00:07:45.399 --> 00:07:49.279
attendance while subtly reinforcing who is and isn't within the
130
00:07:49.319 --> 00:07:53.160
fold of the working Royals. And there you have it plenty.
131
00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:55.639
Email aus Wo addresses The Palace intriget gmail dot com.
132
00:07:55.680 --> 00:07:58.199
Please follow the Spotify, Apple or Apple of your choice
133
00:07:58.199 --> 00:08:01.360
and leave us some stars or review if you're enjoying
134
00:08:01.480 --> 00:08:05.519
the show, don't forget We have subscriptions available for this
135
00:08:05.720 --> 00:08:08.959
show to get it commercial free, and you can get
136
00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:11.439
this along with hundreds of others from Caloroga Shark Media,
137
00:08:11.560 --> 00:08:15.079
including a lot of Christmas shows from Romance to the
138
00:08:15.079 --> 00:08:19.800
paranormal and ghosts and murder mysteries and they're all Christmas themed.
139
00:08:19.959 --> 00:08:23.120
You can check out those at Caloroga Shark Media. The
140
00:08:23.160 --> 00:08:25.959
details are in the show notes. I mind Francis thanks
141
00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:28.680
to John McDermott. This is Palace intrigue and good terms