Prince Charles is planning to live in a flat at Buckingham Palace while most of the rest of the building is opened to the public, according to reports.
Balmoral will also be opened to the public, while Prince William and his family will move from Kensington Palace to Windsor Castle.
A source told the Mail on Sunday that discussing the future of the palaces is “on the ‘to do’ list” as part of Charles's plans for modernising the Royal family.
The source added: “Everybody recognises it makes no sense to run so many residences but if you give them up entirely you will never get them back when Prince George and the younger royals grow up and need somewhere to live.”
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, are said to be among those in the Royal Family vying for accommodation in the reshuffle.
Prince Edward and Princess Anne are also said to be safe in Bagshot Park at Windsor and Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire respectively.
Buckingham Palace is currently used as a working royal residence, housing the Queen's offices among its 775 rooms as well as 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms.
Members of the public can currently visit the state rooms, the gardens, the priceless fine art hanging from the corridors, and Her Majesty's throne room on certain days.
Under new plans, members of the public will be given access all year around while the monarch’s living quarters will be dramatically cut.
A friend of Charles said: “Despite what everybody thinks about him not wanting to live there, he will certainly have accommodation there – but it will be a much more modest flat-above-the-shop situation akin to that of the Prime Minister at Downing Street.”
Charles’s official London residence at Clarence House was originally earmarked for Harry but his departure to the US means that is “no longer on the cards”, with the residence likely to be saved for Prince George, Princess Charlotte or Prince Louis.
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
