Why King Charles Will Never Live in Buckingham Palace

0:03 Callarogus, shark media low and welcome to Palace Intrigue. I am your host, Mark Francis. King Charles has made two significant decisions that together may reshape how the public thinks about the modern monarchy. One is symbolic, the other practical. Together they tell us quite a bit about where he believes the institution needs to go. For the first time in modern British history, the king has publicly disclosed how much tax he pays. The newly released royal financial accounts show that Charles voluntarily paid twelve point nine million pounds in income and capital gains tax for the twenty twenty four to twenty five financial year. That follows a payment of eleven point seven million pounds the previous year, bringing his total voluntary tax payments since becoming king to more than thirty million pounds. Prince William also released his tax figures for the first time, revealing he paid seven points seven six million pounds during the same financial year after receiving income from the Duchy of Cornwall. The move represents a notable shift in royal transparency. While monarchs have voluntarily paid income tax since the nineteen nineties, the actual amounts have never been before published. Buckingham Palace described the decision as an effort to increase public understanding of how the monarchy operates financially. The release comes after years of growing calls for greater openness surrounding royal finances, particularly following controversies involving Prince Andrew and wider questions from members of Parliament

1:35 about accountability. Not everyone believes the disclosures go far enough. Tax expert Dan Needle, founder of Tax Policy Associates, questioned just how much had actually been revealed. We don't know how much of that is capital gains tax, how much is income tax? He told BBC Radiophors Today Program. Very importantly, we don't know what expenses he's deducted to come up with the figure on which he pays the tax. The annual Sovereign Grant Report also contained another announcement that may surprise royal watchers. After years of speculation that Charles would eventually move into Buckingham Palace once its extensive refurbishment was completed, that will not happen. Instead, the King and Queen Camilla have decided they will remain at Clarence House as their permanent London residence. Buckingham Palace will continue to serve as what officials describe as the operational headquarters of the monarchy. State.

2:30 Banquets will still be held there, Diplomatic receptions will continue, Investitures, audiences, official ceremonies, and countless royal events will still take place inside the palace, but it will no longer be the King's home. James Chalmers, the keeper of the Privy Purse, explained the thinking I can update you that, after careful consideration, and to greatly increase opportunities for public access, the King and Queen have decided not to adopt Buckingham Palace as a personal residence and will instead continue to use Clarence House their London home. Their majesties will however, have access to private rooms within the Palace where they can retire during the coursill a working day, and which could be utilized as potential residential accommodation in times ahead. Officials say the decision was driven in part by a desire to allow more visitors into Buckingham Palace. If the monarch actually lived there, large sections would need to remain permanently closed for security reasons, keeping Clarence House as the King's residence allows Buckingham Palace to function more as a working royal headquarters and public attraction. A Palace spokesperson added, his Majesty retains huge affection for Buckingham Palace and a deep respect for its role in royal and public life. It will be a buzzing hive of royal activity in every other way.

3:46 It marks a remarkable break with nearly two centuries of tradition. Queen Victoria became the first monarch to establish Buckingham Palace as the principal royal residence in eighteen thirty seven. Since then, every reigning sovereign has called at home. The decision also reflects his long standing affection for Clarence House, where he has lived since two thousand and five. Compared with Buckingham Palace's seven hundred and seventy five rooms, Clarence House is considerably smaller and perhaps better suited to the King's preference for a less sprawling private residence. Meanwhile, the palace refurbishment itself is nearing completion. The ten year project, costing roughly three hundred seventy million pounds, has focused largely on infrastructure rather than luxury. Ancient electrical wiring, plumbing, boilers and heating systems have all been replaced to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire or flooding inside one of Britain's most famous buildings.

4:39 The work is expected to finish next year. The financial report also revealed details of Royal travel. The most expensive overseas engagement during the reporting period was the Prince of Wales's three day visit to Saudi Arabia in February, which cost one hundred thirty thousand pounds including advanced planning. The accounts also show that the Royal household spent just over th three point three million pounds on official travel costing under twenty thousand pounds, including one hundred seventy seven helicopter journeys totally more than seven hundred thirty three thousand pounds, sixty charter flights costing more than eight hundred and thirty seven thousand, along with rail travel and scheduled commercial flights. One journey aboard the Royal Train to Lancaster cost just over forty eight thousand. The sovereign grant itself also increased substantially during the year, funding roads to one hundred thirty two point one million pounds, reflecting additional allocations tied to the Buckingham Palace refurbishment. Once that work concludes, the grant is expected to settle it just under one hundred million pounds annually, still significantly higher than previous decades. James Chalmers emphasized that the funding should not be viewed as personal income to members of the royal family. It is important to emphasize that the sovereign grant does not provide personal income to members of the Royal family. It funds the work of the institution, not private lives or private wealth inside a deep Crown observes, modern institutions rarely volunteer more than it's necessary. The Palace has simply chosen to volunteer rather than more than it once did. It has calculated

6:10 that partial transparency costs less than continued opacity. It is likely correct in their calculation. More palacing just a moment. By the way, all this week on Palace Intrigue in the afternoon edition you can hear our USA two fifty shows and it's just a celebration of how the monarchy has changed in the last two hundred and fifty years. So take a listen. Each day this week in the afternoon edition. Also our sister show Daily Crime and Justice, which looks at all the crimes and trials going on on a daily basis. This week is looking at the top five UK trials, so check that one out to Daily Crime and Justice wherever you get your podcasts. Vicual Rose Garden, donated by the Princess of Wales, is now in bloom for the first time at the National Memorial Arboretum.

7:06 The new display features eighty Catherine Roses, a variety named in Catherine's honor by the Royal Horticultural Society and developed by Harkness Roses. The rose was created to celebrate what its designers describe as the healing power of nature, while raising awareness of the positive impact that time spent outdoors can have on mental, physical and spiritual well being. The Princess donated the roses to the National Memorial Arboretum, where visitors are now seeing the new flower bed come to life for the first time. Philippa Rawlson, director of the National Memorial, welcome the contribution, saying we are grateful for the Princess's thoughtful support and her recognition of the important role that landscapes such as ours play in supporting well being.

7:48 It was hot last week, how art was it? At one point, the King's Master of the Household, retired Vice Admiral Tony Johnston Bert, was seen holding a small portable electric fan close to the monarch as Charles spoke with guests. The King was also photographed wiping perspiration from his face during an event. Last week's heatwave reignited interest in the Royal Pool. The swimming pool occupies what was once a conservatory at Buckingham Palace and was added in nineteen thirty eight as a surprise for the young Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. The facility is also said to be available to Buckingham Palace staff under a long standing arrangement provided no member of the royal family whish is to use it at the same time. For Andrew, however, reports suggest those days and now over, it is believed he no longer has access to the pool. He has also lost out on access to an outdoor pool that has former home Royal Lodge Hello Reports Archive images reveal it is a rectangular pool positioned at the bottom of a gentle rolling bank, creating an idyllic setting for an outdoor dip.

8:48 The heat wave also do attention to Zara Tyndall's legs. Unlike working members of the royal family, Zara has never been bound by the same expectations surrounding official royal dress, and over the years she has regularly embraced a real at casual style went away from formal engagements. One outfit has become something of a signature is a pair of cutoff Denham shorts. Perhaps the most widely seen example came in twenty twenty four, when Zara was photographed arriving at Southmead Hospital after her mother, Princess Anne, suffered minor injuries at her Gatcombe Park estate. On that occasion, Zara paired freyed denim shorts with an oversized denim shirt, added ask gazelle trainers, sunglasses in a cross body handbag, creating a practical look that contrasted sharply with the polished outfits normally associated with royal women. While denim shorts are a staple of many summer wardrobes, they have traditionally fallen outside the unwritten style conventions followed by senior royals and official engagements.

9:40 Although there is no formal public handbook governing royal fashion etiquette experts have long suggested that women representing the monarchy at official events generally favored dresses, skirts, or tailored trousers, with casual denim reserved for private occasions. That said, there have been notable exceptions. Catherine, the Princess of Wales, wore tailored white shorts during the sailing and Game in Plymouth and twenty twenty two. Even Diana, Princess of Wales, famously embraced sporty shorts during holidays and private outings in the nineties the Lake Wuend. Elizabeth, however, was never publicly photographed wearing shorts during her seventy year reign, reflecting a more traditional approach to royal dressing. And there you have it. Hey, before we go, if you're listening on Apple podcasts, we'd love for you to become a premium subscriber. Just have that banner in the app that says uninterrupted Listening and you can start a free thirty day trial. After that, it's just five dollars a month and you get this show completely, add free and premium access to more than twenty five other Calauga Shark Media podcasts, including a Whole Royal lineup, all commercial free. Give it a try for a month and see what you think. We really, really really appreciate your support. I'm Mark Francis My thanks to John McDermott. This says palace intrigue. Good names,