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| '''Wales House''' is a secondary residence belonging to the {{wp|House of Hanover|British royal family}}. It is located in the {{wp|Upstate New York|upstate New York}} region and was constructed in 1939 by [[Charles III of the United Kingdom|Charles III]], then a {{wp|Prince of Wales|''Prince of Wales''}}. | | '''Wales House''' is a secondary residence belonging to the {{wp|British}} royal family. It is located in the {{wp|Upstate New York|upstate New York}} region and was constructed in 1939 by [[Charles the Great|King Charles III]]. |
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| [[File:Wales House.jpg|thumb]] | | [[File:NYYE.jpg|thumb]] |
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| Constructed in 1939 by the orders of [[Charles III of the United Kingdom|Charles III]], then a {{wp|Prince of Wales|''Prince of Wales''}} following his voluntary exile from the {{wp|United Kingdom}}, it served as his principal residence and was initially registered as ''Clarke House'', attributing to his assumed alias, ''Robert Clarke''. By Charles's discretion, it was constructed in a moderately exclusive nature, owing both to Charles's preferred simplicity in living and his royal heritage.
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| For approximately five years after its completion, it was occupied by [[Charles III of the United Kingdom|Charles]] and his private entourage whom would serve as the principal communicator between Charles and specifically the {{wp|British}} government back in {{wp|London}}. On March 1945, a then 21-year old {{wp|Lauren Bacall}}, Charles's romantic interest was allowed to move in together with the royal following a private disclosure of the latter's actual identity. Subsequently, the estate, now renamed to ''Wales House'' was quick to receive huge publicity and media coverage from both the {{wp|American}} and the {{wp|British}} press. Despite this, it would continue to serve as the couple's primary residence until their departure for {{wp|London}} five years later.
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| Despite the couple's inability to frequently reside in their estate due to their royal obligations, it was however briefly visited for a reported amount of more than ten times a year, a trend which continued until [[Charles III of the United Kingdom|Charles]]'s death in 1985. Since then, the residence's primary ownership status, though legally being under the {{wp|Crown Estate}}, has been traditionally inherited by the sovereigns of the {{wp|United Kingdom}}, with both [[William VI of the United Kingdom|King William VI]] and [[Alexandra I of the United Kingdom|Queen Alexandra]] being the eldest descendant of their predecessor. In 2014, the then {{wp|Lauren Bacall|Queen Mother}} passed away while staying at the residence with her granddaughter [[Alexandra I of the United Kingdom|Alexandra]]. She was later transported back to the {{wp|United Kingdom}} in an elaborate state funeral procession, before being interred at {{wp|Westminster Abbey}} alongside her [[Charles III of the United Kingdom|husband]].
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| As of 2021, ''Wales House'' is estimated to be worth approximately $125 million, or £91.4 million pounds, and has so far survived one attempted robbery which occurred in November 2020. It has since been the secondary residence for both the immediate and extended members of the {{wp|British royal family}}.
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