Queen Camilla has a surprising connection to Buckingham Palace that has nothing to do with her husband, King Charles. Her great-great-great-grandfather, architect Thomas Cubitt, is celebrated for designing the East Front and the palace's iconic balcony. The original building was completed in 1703, with significant alterations following Queen Victoria's wedding in 1840.
Thomas Cubitt's Legacy
Cubitt, born in Norfolk, rose to prominence after being noticed by the Duke of Bedford and the Marquess of Westminster for his admired work in London. He is best known for his splendid residential squares and for self-funding a significant stretch of the Thames Embankment. He also oversaw the Regency Kemp Town estate in Brighton, buying 37 plots and carcasses on which houses were finished.
Camilla's ancestor co-designed Osborne House on the Isle of Wight alongside Prince Albert, where Queen Victoria later died in 1901. Cubitt passed away in 1855, after which Victoria said: "In his sphere of life, with the immense business he had in hand, he is a real national loss. A better, kind-hearted or more simple, unassuming man never breathed."
Royal Residence Changes
This week it was confirmed that the King and Queen will not live at Buckingham Palace once almost £370 million of refurbishment work to make the landmark fit for purpose has been completed. The iconic building will remain the operational centre of "monarchy HQ", but Charles has decided that for his reign, it will not be his official residence. Nearby Clarence House will remain his London home.
"His Majesty retains huge affection for Buckingham Palace and a deep respect for its role in royal and public life," said a palace spokesperson. "It will be a buzzing hive of royal activity in every other way." The decision has been taken partly to increase public access to the London landmark, as security concerns, if the King were in residence, would limit the numbers and areas people could visit.
