'I was King Charles' butler - he told me he wouldn't live in Buckingham Palace years ago'

'I was King Charles' butler - he told me he wouldn't live in Buckingham Palace years ago' Former royal butler Grant Harrold, who worked for King Charles, says the royal told him years ago that he planned to keep Clarence House as his main residence - long before he became monarch King Charles has taken the huge decision to shun Buckingham Palace as his primary residence once renovations are complete, though it comes as little shock to one ex-employee. A former member of his royal household reveals he always knew the King would opt to remain at Clarence House, having been told of his intentions years before the death of his mother, the late Queen. The extensive renovation works at the Palace, reported to carry a hefty price tag of £369million, are due to wrap up next year, yet Charles and Queen Camilla will stay put at Clarence House, where they have resided for over 20 years. Former royal butler Grant Harrold, who served Charles between 2004 and 2011, disclosed that the King confided his preference to him "years ago". Speaking to Reach PLC, he said: "The King actually told me about his plans to keep Clarence House as his main residence years ago, long before he became monarch," reports the Express. "So the news isn't really a surprise, I think it's always been on the cards. I knew that this would be a call he would eventually make and announce publicly." Buckingham Palace has stood as the official London home of the British monarch since Queen Victoria ascended to the throne in 1837. In the years since, six kings and queens have called the Palace their official base, most recently Charles' beloved mother. Royal officials say the decision has been partly influenced by a desire to allow greater public access to the historic landmark. There are security concerns that having the King in residence at the Palace would restrict the number of areas visitors could explore. With both Charles and Camilla approaching 80 in the next few years, it's believed they're reluctant to face the disruption of relocating themselves and their staff to Buckingham Palace. Grant explained why he believes it's appropriate for Charles and Camilla to stay put at Clarence House. He said: "The King and Camilla love Clarence House. They've lived there for over two decades and they've really made it their home. "It's their style and it's homely, their private place away from the spotlight. "They also have the benefit of it being just down the road from Buckingham Palace, so they can pop there very easily whenever needed." The decade-long refurbishment of Buckingham Palace has been financed through a temporary rise in the Sovereign Grant, which covers the official duties of the royals. It's due to be finished in March 2027. Outdated cables, lead pipes, wiring and boilers are scheduled to be replaced during the renovation, many for the first time in 60 years. This followed fears about potential fire and water damage. Grant believes that while the Palace isn't suitable for the King and Queen to reside in, it will still serve a valuable purpose for the Royal Family. He said: "I've spent time in the private areas of Buckingham Palace, and they are very dated. The whole building is. They have tried to modernise it over the years with all of the renovations, however it's a historic building filled with centuries of traditions. "It's also obviously very, very large. Getting from a room on one side of it to a room on the other is quite a journey, and we've got to remember they're getting older. It's not overly practical. "While it's not practical for the King and Queen's private living, it's the perfect place for big state occasions - and it will still be used for that." Grant went on to describe the Royal Family's announcement regarding their wish to open up greater access to the Palace as a "telling detail", suggesting it represents "another sign of modernising". He did hint, however, that the announcement could be a "clever PR move", given that it coincided with King Charles publicly releasing details of his personal tax bill for the very first time.