Prince Charles bought Highgrove House in 1980 after falling in love with the Gloucestershire home but the move was a surprise to the Queen. Speaking to the Channel 5 documentary, Secrets of the Royal Palaces, royal expert Julie Montagu, explained the Royal Family inherit homes, they do not buy them. The Prince of Wales bought the nine-bedroom house for £865,000.
Ms Montagu said: “When Prince Charles bought Highgrove in the 1980s, I think it was a surprise to everybody.”
Royal commentator Susie Boniface added: “The Royal Family do not purchase homes.
“They inherit them.”
Narrator Glynis Barber continued: “When Highgrove came on the market, Charles snapped it up for £865,000.”
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Ms Montagu said: “For Charles, it ticked all the boxes as far as architecture, perfect location and not enormous – nine bedrooms, kind of manageable.”
It comes as royal editor Robert Jobson explained how the Prince of Wales has been doing a lot of the heavy lifting the past few years as the Queen cannot be expected “to continue at the same pace”.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Jobson said: “He is certainly the longest-serving heir to the throne.
“I’m sure he will continue to do so if the Queen wants to continue in that role.
“Whether there is a formal handing over of that executive power in terms of a regency is still up in the air but the Prince of Wales will obviously continue to do more and more.”
Royal biographer Angela Levin believes the Queen could step down as early as next year.
She told Channel 5 documentary ‘The Queen and Charles – Mother and Son’, the Monarch would step down from duties at 95.
Ms Levin said: “If the monarch is incapable of doing her duties then the heir can take over and do all the duties the monarch can’t do.
“There were rumours that the Queen might stand down when she’s 95 – but actually she seems so strong and confident she might just carry on.”
