Prince Charles shares rare photo of childhood home with the Queen and Prince Philip

Prince Charles has posted a sweet photo from his childhood summers at Clarence House

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales speaks with soldiers of the Welsh Guards during a visit to Combermere Barracks on May 5, 2021 in Windsor, England
(Image credit: Photo by Peter Cziborra - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Prince Charles has shared a sweet photo from his childhood at Clarence House, featuring a young Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip and an even younger Princess Anne. 


The Prince of Wales has taken a trip down memory lane with his latest social media post, sharing a touching family snap from his youth at Clarence House. The black-and-white photo, which was taken 70 years ago, shows Charles as a royal tot with his parents and little sister Anne in the gardens of the luxurious London residence. The Queen and Prince Philip, who are seated on a picnic blanket, can be seen smiling fondly at their two children as they play together by a row of flowers. 

"Taken 70 years ago this month, this photo shows The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, and Princess Anne enjoying a warm summer day in the Clarence House garden. ☀️" the caption reads. 

The post also included a link to a virtual tour of the plush property, which is located just a five-minute walk away from the Royal Family's headquarters of Buckingham Palace. Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla first shared the sneak peek of Clarence House's regal decor earlier this month, inviting the public to explore its extravagant interior from the comfort of their own homes. 

Clarence House the London home of Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall

Clarence House

(Image credit: MICHAEL DUNLEA / Alamy Stock Photo)

The historic building, which has been closed to tourists because of COVID restrictions, has long been a cherished piece of real estate for the Royal Family. 

It was built between 1825 and 1827 for the Duke of Clarence, who went on to become King William IV, and has continued to house royal tenants ever since. Clarence House was famously occupied by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip from 1949 until 1953, the year of Her Majesty's coronation. The couple welcomed their first two children, Charles and Anne, during this time. When the family upgraded to Buckingham Palace, they were replaced by the Queen Mother, who lived in Clarence House until her death in 2002. Prince Charles moved into the five-bedroom mansion with Camilla following the loss of his grandmother and has lived there happily to this day.

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.

Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.