Following the passing of her husband, King George VI, and the ascension of her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, to the throne, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother found herself in close proximity
to support her daughter's new role as monarch. Ahead of her daughter's Coronation in 1953, The Queen Mother moved into London's Clarence House.
This transition was swift, as Clarence House had been the residence of the new Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh after their marriage. Once Princess Elizabeth became Queen, Clarence House was swiftly arranged for The Queen Mother, who took up residence with her younger daughter, Princess Margaret, and the sister of the reigning Queen. During her stay at Clarence House, The Queen Mother transformed the Duke of Edinburgh's former study into the Morning Room. Here, she added a Georgian marble fireplace and a new plaster ceiling adorned with her own crown. The renovations extended further in 1960 when she converted two rooms on the ground floor into the Garden Room, a spacious and well-lit area used for hosting large gatherings.
The rooms themselves were adorned with art pieces accumulated by The Queen Mother over her six decades as a collector and patron of artists. The collection prominently featured the works of artists such as John Piper, WS Sickert, and Augustus John, showcasing a strong influence of 20th-century British art. Additionally, The Queen Mother had an affinity for acquiring English porcelain, silver items, artifacts related to the Bowes-Lyon family, and exquisite examples of Fabergé craftsmanship.
Renowned for her enthusiasm in hosting luncheons and evening receptions at Clarence House, The Queen Mother often invited foreign Heads of State for afternoon tea during the first day of their State Visits.
The Queen Mother resided at Clarence House in London from 1953 until her passing in 2002. The layout and arrangement of the rooms, along with their contents, have been maintained in their original form as they were during The Queen Mother's time, as stated on the official royal family website. In preparation for the former Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, Clarence House underwent extensive refurbishment and redecoration, including the incorporation of new textiles and artworks from Charles' personal collection. Photo by Wikimedia commons.