Wales House

Wales House is a secondary residence belonging to the British royal family. It is located in the upstate New York region and was constructed in 1939 by Charles III, then a Prince of Wales.

Constructed in 1939 by the orders of Charles III, then a Prince of Wales following his voluntary exile from the 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.

For approximately five years after its completion, it was occupied by Charles and his private entourage whom would serve as the principal communicator between Charles and specifically the British government back in London. On March 1945, a then 21-year old 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 American and the British press. Despite this, it would continue to serve as the couple's primary residence until their departure for London five years later.

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's death in 1985. Since then, the residence's primary ownership status, though legally being under the Crown Estate, has been traditionally inherited by the sovereigns of the United Kingdom, with both King William VI and Queen Alexandra being the eldest descendant of their predecessor. In 2014, the then Queen Mother passed away while staying at the residence with her granddaughter Alexandra. She was later transported back to the United Kingdom in an elaborate state funeral procession, before being interred at Westminster Abbey alongside her husband.

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.