Clarence House

Clarence House was built in the Palladian style between 1804 and 1806, on the site of the original Commissioner’s House.   The Duke of Clarence (later William IV) had stayed in the earlier house, while serving with Nelson in the Royal Navy. ‘The Sailor King’, 3^rd son of King George III and Queen Charlotte, entered the Royal Navy when he was 13, largely to remove him from the dissolute influence of his eldest brother (later George IV).  He joined a 98-gun ship, Prince George, as a midshipman on 15 June 1779, and within a year was present at the second relief of Gibraltar, and while in New York in 1782, was almost kidnapped by an agent of George Washington’s.  He was lent to Warwick and then transferred to Barfleur, Lord Hood’s flagship, sailing to the West Indies.

He had met Horatio Nelson in New York and they soon formed mutually flattering opinions of one another.  While in the West Indies they saw each other a great deal.  Nelson described him a strong disciplinarian who made a good impression in Jamaica: ‘They are all highly delighted with him.  With the best temper and great good sense, he cannot fail of being pleasing to every one.’  In 1786, he was stationed in the West Indies under Nelson’s command.

He and Nelson were constantly together, and when Nelson married Frances (Fanny) Nisbet in 1787, the Prince gave her away. ‘In every respect, both as a man and a prince, I love him,’ wrote Nelson.  The Admiral further appraised the Prince: ‘In his professional line, he is superior to two-thirds, I am sure, of the [Naval] list; and in attention to orders, and respect to his superior officer, I hardly know his equal.’

The new Clarence House began as the Commissioner’s House.  It served as the home of the Governors for some years, but was destroyed by hurricanes in the 1990s.   To boost its restoration, Princess Margaret became Patron of the Clarence House Restoration Trust.  Having visited Antigua in 1955, she returned on her honeymoon and stayed at Clarence House with Lord Snowdon for two weeks in January 1962.  In February 1997 she was present at a fundraising dinner at the Estate House, Jumby Bay.

When Peter Harrison (Sir Peter in Antigua) won an important yacht race he was prevailed upon by Ann-Marie Martin to fund the restoration and contributed £3.5 million.  The work was overseen by Reg Murphy and his wife, and the house was ready for HRH Prince Harry to open it on 20 November 2016, the first night of his visit celebrating the 35^th anniversary of Independence. The Commonwealth Walkway Trust helped by contributing the Cecil Beaton photograph of The Queen.