History
Clarence House has been a Royal residence for over 170 years and was originally built to the designs of John Nash for The Duke of Clarence, third son of George III, who eventually became William IV.
After becoming King, William IV stayed at Clarence House rather than take up residence in Buckingham Palace which was not complete. Over the years, Clarence House had a number of Royal residents: Queen Victoria’s mother, Victoria, Duchess of Kent; Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Victoria’s second son; and Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, Queen Victoria’s third son.
In 1949 Clarence House became the London home of Princess Elizabeth, elder daughter of George VI, two years after her marriage to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten on 20th November 1947.
Princess Anne was born at Clarence House in August 1950, and it was the home of The Prince of Wales between the ages of one and three.
The death of King George VI on 6 February 1952 led to the accession of Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh moved to Buckingham Palace, and Clarence House became the accommodation of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.
It is with the late Queen Elizabeth that Clarence House is today most associated. She moved there with Princess Margaret in 1953, shortly before the Coronation.
From Clarence House Queen Elizabeth carried out many official duties. All foreign Heads of State called at Clarence House for tea in the afternoon of the first day of a State Visit.
From 1970, when Queen Elizabeth celebrated her 70th birthday, to 2001, the Royal Family assembled at Clarence House on 4th August each year for a traditional birthday appearance by The Queen Mother.
Well-wishers crowded into Stable Yard Road outside Clarence House to offer greetings and presents.
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 2002, The Prince of Wales made Clarence House his official London residence following a refurbishment.