Queen Elizabeth II resided at the iconic Buckingham Palace for most of her reign, with 775 rooms, gilded décor and secret features, it's quite the impressive royal residence. However, the late monarch did admit she struggled with one issue that came with living in a very large home.
In 1989, the BBC recorded the Queen being quizzed by a group of children about her life as monarch, including insights like how heavy the crown is and how much she enjoys her job. One then asked: "How big is your palace?" to which she replied, "Quite large, it has very long corridors to walk down," and then in the now-viral video clip, she admitted why long corridors could sometimes pose an issue - she wittingly added: "especially if one's late."
Why the Queen didn't want to live at Buckingham Palace
Despite the palace being synonymous with the queen, she actually never wanted to live there. As reported by royal biographer Penny Junor in her book The Firm, the Queen wanted to remain living at Clarence House after her father's death, but it was, in fact, Sir Winston Churchill who strongly encouraged the move to Buckingham Palace.
It reads: "None of them wanted to go. They loved Clarence House; it was a family home, but Winston Churchill, who was then Prime Minister, insisted upon it."
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Interestingly, her son, now-King Charles, is now choosing to shun Buckingham Palace, and continue living at his beloved home, Clarence House.
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Some people have critiqued Charles' decision online, particularly after the palace's £369 million renovations are almost complete. However, others have defended the monarch's personal choice. On social media, one royal fan made some fair points. "Living at Clarence House saves a lot of money: fewer staff, lower heating bill, less electricity, less water usage etc. It has always been their principal married home, smaller, more intimate and more cosy for a mature couple. It helps too that it is a stone's throw from BP and way more private," they penned.
At the time the announcement was made, 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.
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"It will remain a working home but we are seeking to widen public access precisely to maximise the national benefit of a publicly-funded building."
At present, the palace runs exhibitions and events, but in the near future more and more of it could be opened up for members of the public to see and enjoy. Charles sees the historic value in buildings like Buckingham Palace and recognises the public interest.