The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh (1949–1952

left Queen Elizabeth with her grandson, Prince Andrew, on her lap in the garden of Clarence House in 1960, with Prince Charles, Princess Anne and an admiring corgi.

Queen Elizabeth waves to crowds of well-wishers from the balcony at Clarence House on her 90th birthday.

right Queen Elizabeth celebrates her 99th birthday outside Clarence House with The Prince of Wales, Prince Harry and Prince William.

QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER (1953–2002)

Clarence House was granted to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother for her lifetime in 1952, and she moved there with Princess Margaret in May 1953, shortly before the Coronation. The house remained her London home until her death in 2002, and its distinct atmosphere still owes much to her personality and taste.

For many years after the death of George VI, Queen Elizabeth continued to entertain a wide range of people, officially and privately. Clarence House was notable for its welcoming feel and its unique blend of grandeur and informality. The simplicity of the rooms was the perfect foil, too, for the many works of art acquired by Queen Elizabeth over sixty years as a collector and patron of artists.

When Queen Elizabeth celebrated her 70th birthday on 4 August 1970, the Royal Family gathered at Clarence House to mark the occasion. This was the first of what became a traditional birthday appearance to well-wishers in Stable Yard Road. In 1990 and 2000, to mark her 90th and 100th birthdays, the celebrations were extended, with gala parades in The Mall and on Horse Guards Road.