Rosewarne House

Clifton Royal Palace is the official residence and workplace of the reigning monarch of the Kingdom of Wessex. Located in Clifton, Bristol, the palace is located on the edge of Brandon Hill, backing onto the Clifton Royal Gardens. Originally built in 1584, the palace was formerly an independent school which closed in 1954. Today, the palace has been completely refurbished and redecorated, a great deal of which is based off of the interior of Buckingham Palace in London.

The Palace, along with others residences, are officially owned by the Crown, and are officially exempt from tax, however the Queen has volunteered to pay tax. The other residences owned by the Crown are Brighton Pavillion, Brightion a seasonal home, and Highsgrove House, Gloucestershire which is the official residence of the Duke of Cornwall. Other property is inhabited by members of the Royal Family, however is not officially owned by the crown.

Layout


The Palace is located on a man-made plateau on the side of Brandon Hill. The facade of the palace looks out onto Berkley Place, and is protected by a large wall which spans the front of the palace. The Royal Guard stand watch at the gatehouse.

The Palace is centred around the Royal Courtyard, which can be accessed through the central arch, which cuts through the Edward Wing, which was named following his death in 1983. The back of the courtyard is the Cabot Wing, which backs onto the Clifton Royal Gardens, located on the hill above, with Cabot's Tower at the summit.

Edward's Wing
Named in memory of the first King of Wessex, Edward I, after his death in 1980, Edward's Wing is known as the official wing of the palace, containing the Great Hall, the Official Drawing Room, from where dignitaries and other official guests are recieved and the Royal Gallery, displaying portraits of the royal family and other works of art.

Cabot Wing
Named in memory of John Cabot, the Cabot Wing is located to the rear of the courtyard, which contains the main living space for the residents, including the Bedrooms, the Living Room and the Utility Quaters, such as the Kitchen.

Clifton Royal Gardens
Clifton Royal Gardens are located on Brandon Hill, and most of which are open to the public, as a National Park. The gardens contain many plants, including some exotic, within the newly built public greenhouse. The garden as a whole employs 15 people for upkeep. The gardens also contain 'Cabot Tower' built in 1897, in memory of John Cabot on order of Henry the VII of England.

Official Residents

 * Edward I, and Anna I (1972 - 1983)
 * Anna II and George, Duke of Avon (1980 - Current)