16 May 2023 , 11:21
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Is it about time the gargantuan 775-room Buckingham Palace took on a new lease of life and became something different?
The British monarch's world-famous home - and proud centrepiece of national and royal celebrations - could be transformed into a museum or VIP guesthouse, according to reports.
King Charles, said to be keen to continue living in the more modest surrounds of nearby Clarence House, is reportedly mulling over the idea of opening up the palace to the public, and transforming it into a 'more commercial domain'.
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The King's official London residence is currently undergoing a £369 million taxpayer-funded refurbishment after ministers said the building desperately needed an 'urgent overhaul' - as the potentially hazardous electrics, plumbing and heating have not been upgraded since the 1950s.
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There are currently no royal occupants living there, and the King and Queen's sizeable private office and communications team are based in the palace's offices.
Historically, the palace's state rooms and gardens have been open to the public for a mere ten-weeks from July to October, while the late Queen Elizabeth II holidayed over the summer at her Scottish residence, Balmoral.
But the King and heir to the throne Prince William are said to agree that Buckingham Palace is unsuitable for modern family life. So what should become of Buckingham Palace?
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Located in the City of Westminster, the residence currently houses one of the world's most impressive art collections, including masterpieces by Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian and Vermeer. There are rumblings that opening the palace up more widely to the public could transform it overnight into an elite global museum.
The Times reports a source who knows the King well, saying: “He likes it at Clarence House, is quite frugal and wouldn’t want to get an interior designer in to redo Buckingham Palace for him.
“People who come to Britain on state visits expect to stay at Buckingham Palace, so it could become a gallery and presidents’ guesthouse. It is such a cavernous place that you could fit things in so that nobody noticed each other.”
The source continued: “The Royal Collection is one of the world’s great private art collections and it would be a fantastic way to have it be seen more widely. They wouldn’t need to look outside for loans: they could put on a lifetime of exhibitions just from the collection.”
What do YOU think Buckingham Palace should be turned into? Take our poll above and expand on you decision in the comments below.