Cinema in the basement, a fancy fridge in the kitchen and an electric wardrobe in the dressing room: How Clarence House was turned into a thoroughly modern home by Prince Philip after he and the Queen married
- Princess Elizabeth and Philip moved into Clarence House in July 1949
When they moved into Clarence House in the summer of 1949, Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip had everything any up and coming young couple needed – and much more.
The 19th century London home – now where King Charles lives when in the capital – near St James' Palace in Westminster had been refurbished at a cost of more than £50,000, the equivalent of nearly £1.5million today.
The kitchen boasted stainless steel work surfaces, a fridge costing £2,000 (£60,000 in today's money) that could make ice for cocktail parties and an electric oven.
Both Elizabeth and Philip had their own sitting rooms furnished to their tastes, whilst a private cinema was installed in the wine cellar – although there was a delay in getting it up and running because the Ministry of Works stalled on issuing a permit.
In his dressing room, Philip had a closet that would produce a suit or uniform at the press of a button, along with an electric trouser press.
The heir to the throne and her husband, who married in November 1947, had previously been living at rented Surrey home Wendelsham Moor, where Charles was initially raised after his birth in November 1948.
They stayed there until the renovations to Clarence House were completed.
It was at Clarence House where Princess Anne was born in August 1950, with the Mail reporting how the Queen Mother – then Queen Elizabeth – saw her for the first time while wearing a face mask.
When they moved into Clarence House in the summer of 1949, Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip had everything any up and coming young couple needed – and much more. Above: Elizabeth and Philip with Prince Charles and a baby Princess Anne in the garden at Clarence House in August 1951
The 19th century London home – now where King Charles lives when in the capital – near St James’ Palace in Westminster had been refurbished at a cost of more than £50,000, the equivalent of nearly £1.5million today
Designed by architect John Nash, Clarence House was built between 1825 and 1827 for Prince William Henry, the Duke of Clarence.
The Daily Mail's 1949 report on the newly-refurbished Clarence House
He lived there as King William IV from 1830 until 1837.
Later, Queen Victoria's third son, the Duke of Connaught, used the home from 1900 until his death in 1942.
During the Second World War, when it was used by both the Red Cross and St John's Ambulance, the home was damaged by German bombs.
Elizabeth and Philip were the first royals to actually live in the property since Prince Alfred, the second son of Queen Victoria. He died in 1900.
A large part of the money that was spent on renovating it went on the installation of electric light throughout, along with central and water heating.
While it was being done up, the royal couple's London base was at Kensington Palace in the flat of Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone.
Elizabeth and Philip finally moved into Clarence House in July 1949, but also spent much of the year until 1951 living in Malta.
The Mail reported on Clarence House at the time: 'The Princess's kitchen is lined with polished tiles of daffodil yellow, the floors laid with quarry tiles.
'Cooking is by gas, although there is a small electrical oven for occasional use.'
Along with the stainless steel work tables, there was a modern glass canopy hanging over the cooker, steamer and boiler to ‘carry away head and fumes.’
The Mail added that 'last, but not least', there was the 'wedding-present refrigerator, a luxurious £2,000 affair, with separate containers for vegetables, game, fish, poultry and frozen foods, and capable, when necessary, of making 20lb of ice at a time for royal cocktail parties.'
A staircase seen in Clarence House in 1949, after it had been refurbished at a cost of £50,000
Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in the garden at Clarence House in July 1951
Princess Anne in the arms of Princess Elizabeth, with the Duke of Edinburgh, holding Prince Charles, in the grounds of Clarence House, 1951
Prince Philip seen sitting at his desk in Clarence House, August 10, 1951
A still from home movie footage filmed by the Royal Family shows Prince Charles playing with a set of blocks with his mother
Prince Charles on the wall of Clarence House with his mother watching the procession of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands travelling to the Guildhall during a visit, November 1950
Princess Elizabeth and Philip with Charles and Princess Anne in the grounds of Clarence House, August 1951
In November 1949, the Mail reported how Elizabeth was 'still waiting' for the installation of the private cinema in the wine cellar. The set-up was a gift from the film industry but there was a delay in its installation because the Ministry of Works refused to give a permit for the structural alterations that were needed
The royal property was also large enough to accommodate many other of Princess Elizabeth’s and Philip's wedding presents.
As for the choice of furnishings, the Mail described how Elizabeth 'furnished her husband's sitting room in smoke room style, with cream leather chairs and settees and with his own family portraits above, and flanking, fireplace.
'Panelled in white Canadian maple, the room looks restful and homely.
The piece went on: 'Her own sitting-room is more elaborate, more feminine. It has a fine glass chandelier, a magnificent Chinese carpet, walls of aquamarine blue (her favourite colour, and chintz covers to tone.'
The report added: 'Probably the cosiest and homeliest room in the house is the little room they have called 'The Quiet Room.'
'Both the Princess and the Duke plan to use it as a private hideout where they can escape when they want to be alone together.
'It is lined with Australian jarrah wood and furnished with chintz-covered armchairs clearly designed for comfort rather than elegance.'
The room designed for 'elegant entertaining' was the drawing room, which had 'the air of a French salon of the elaborate and decorative Louis XIV period.'
In November 1949, the Mail reported how Elizabeth was 'still waiting' for the installation of the private cinema in the wine cellar.
The set-up was a gift from the film industry but there was a delay in its installation because the Ministry of Works refused to give a permit for the structural alterations that were needed.
Princess Anne was born at Clarence House on August 15, 1950.
The Mail said: 'Princess Elizabeth and her daughter are continuing to do well, it was stated at Clarence House last night.
'The new Princess has blue eyes and weighs 6lb.'
Queen Elizabeth, the future Queen Mother, saw Anne for the first time the following day.
She was handed a mask to wear by nurse Helen Rowe. The Mail's report said: 'Sister Rowe handed the Queen a fine-meshed cotton mask.
'The Queen placed it over the lower part of her face before bending over the cot.
'"Isn't she lovely," remarked the Queen. She tip-toed away from the cot before removing the mask.'
Queen Elizabeth then spent 90 minutes drinking tea and talking with Prince Philip.
After the death of George VI in 1952, the bereaved new Queen and Philip were very reluctant to move into Buckingham Palace.
However, Her Majesty's private secretary, Sir Alan 'Tommy' Lascelles and prime minister Winston Churchill insisted.
Clarence House seen more recently. It is were King Charles lives when he is
The Morning Room at Clarence House is best known for hosting Prince George's christening in 2013
The dining room at Clarence House is decorated with a range of artworks and has the capacity for 12 people to have dinner
Clarence House's elegant Morning Room has floor-sweeping blue curtains and corresponding rugs
The corner of the Garden Room at Clarence House features a huge oil painting and decorative table
The elaborate corridors at Clarence House are lined with plush red carpets, seating, artwork, and patterned rugs
Philip made the best of the new living arrangement by setting about modernising the workings of Buckingham Palace with his friend Mike Parker, who became his equerry-in-waiting.
Parker later recalled: 'Philip and I were mates and I felt I could be a useful ally to him at court. The King was fine, very friendly, very helpful, but the traditional courtiers weren't always so easy.'
Valentine Low's book Courtiers reveals how Philip and Parker set about exploring the basements of Buckingham Palace.
He quotes Parker recalling: 'We were fascinated by the wine cellar, which went on for miles and miles.
'There were one or two very ancient wines indeed, plus some very old menus dating from the Victorian period, which were utterly fascinating.'
After Elizabeth and Philip's departure from Clarence House, the Queen Mother moved in and it would remain her home until her death in 2002.
