Clarence House is a royal residence in central London, not a palace. It houses offices, guest rooms, and private quarters, and is open for limited public tours. It contains a wealth of historic artefacts, including works of art and antiques, and serves as a functioning office for the royal family. The house is open seasonally for public tours and is popular due to its unique status as a functioning royal residence.
Clarence House is one of many properties of the British royal family and is located in central London, England. The house serves as an official royal residence, but it is not a palace. As such, it is never the seat of reigning monarchs, only monarch families. It boasts offices and guest rooms as well as private quarters, and is often used to host visiting dignitaries and foreign officials. A certain portion of the ground floor of the house is open seasonally for limited public tours.
While not exactly a museum, Clarence House holds a wealth of real-life artefacts over the centuries. The house was built for the Duke of Clarence, the future King William IV, in 1825, and has kept much of the same appearance ever since. All of the exteriors have been impeccably maintained and preserved. Inside, many restorations and renovations have been made, which allow it to continue to function as a residence and office. No change has been dramatic enough to jeopardize the house’s place on Britain’s Roll of Historic Places.
Clarence House is so much more than just a residence. It is a very large property, capable of accommodating a number of members of the royal family at one time in private apartment-style units. The house also contains the central office of each family member in residence.
Of all the internal offices, the press office is perhaps the most important. Press staff handle everything from advertising to programming for royal residents. Photos of royals in residence are often said to have been released from Clarence House, for example. Likewise, the House – a moniker for general press staff – is generally referred to as the author of all major news releases.
The house also serves as a repository for many royal works of art and major acquisitions, including furniture, gifts from foreign heads of state and dignitaries, and antiques. Many of these are scattered throughout the residence, but a small collection is on permanent display on the ground floor of the house. Some of these entrance halls are made open to the public, generally during the summer months, although an appointment is almost always required.
The open parts of Clarence House function as one of the few British museums to be housed in actual functioning royal residences. Buckingham Palace offers a similar tour, as does Kensington Palace in Chelsea. Otherwise, seekers of royal artefacts usually have to visit the exhibits housed in former palaces and other notable sites, such as the Tower of London. Visiting museums in the latter category are often easier and usually offer much more in terms of exhibits. However, there is something many people find extraordinary about walking where the Royals walk, which keeps the public parts of places like Clarence House immensely popular.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
