The Queen makes permanent move to Windsor Castle

After two years living in Berkshire, the monarch has no plans to return to Buckingham Palace in London
The Queen on the palace balcony on her official 90th birthday in 2016
The Queen on the palace balcony on her official 90th birthday in 2016
STEVE PARSONS/PA

The Queen will never live again at Buckingham Palace, making Windsor Castle her permanent home and main official residence.

It is understood the monarch, 95, who has lived at the palace for most of her 70-year reign, has come to prefer life at the castle, where she has spent much of the past two years since leaving London to isolate with the Duke of Edinburgh at the start of the pandemic.

Windsor was previously only the Queen’s weekend home and her residence for Easter and Royal Ascot week in June.

Barely visible on the balcony with her sister Margaret and grandparents George V and Queen Mary in 1935
Barely visible on the balcony with her sister Margaret and grandparents George V and Queen Mary in 1935
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It means the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are set to be the next members of the royal family to take up residence at Buckingham Palace as King and Queen Consort.