Queen Elizabeth May Never Return To Buckingham Palace And Live There Again: Report

Queen Elizabeth II owns several properties. However, she might not return to her most famous residence — Buckingham Palace.

The 95-year-old British monarch has been residing at Windsor Castle for two years already since the COVID-19 pandemic started. She is no longer expected to return to the London palace and live there. Instead, Her Majesty is making Windsor Castle her "permanent home and main official residence," The Sunday Times reported.

The outlet noted that the Queen has lived at the palace for most of her 70-year reign. Meanwhile, Windsor used to be her weekend home and residence for Easter and Royal Ascot week in June.

The Queen acknowledged how important it was to conduct the sovereign business from Buckingham Palace for a smooth running of the affairs of the state. However, as she turns 96, her approach has changed, and she has successfully "worked from home" at Windsor. Her current residence offers her a better work-life balance.

Buckingham Palace has been the official London residence of the British sovereign since 1837. Queen Elizabeth II's original plan was to only move outside her apartment and to another part of the palace while her quarters were being renovated. The palace is still halfway through a 10-year £369 million reservicing that will not end until 2027.

"The Queen, as you know, is immensely pragmatic and she wants to stay in the palace and she said: 'Let me know where you would like me to go' and she'll go wherever she agrees is appropriate," a senior royal official told the outlet.

However, the monarch has had a change of heart over time. She now prefers to stay at the palace where she spent her last years with Prince Philip before he passed away in April. She only returns to London for occasional engagements and has not spent a night there since March 2020.

"Windsor is the place she loves. She has her memories with Prince Philip there, she has her ponies there and family nearby. It makes sense," said Hugo Vickers, a royal author and deputy lord lieutenant of Berkshire, who knows the British monarch.