Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has opened up on everything from the feud between Prince Harry and King Charles to his less-than-flattering verdict on Buckingham Palace09:50, 15 Jul 2026Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has compared Buckingham Palace to Fawlty Towers after visiting the royal residence, while also sharing his views on Meghan Markle's time as a working member of the Royal Family.‌The outspoken interior designer and former Changing Rooms presenter said the famous palace had lost much of its former grandeur and suggested it could benefit from one of his trademark redesigns.‌Speaking to Heat magazine, he said: "I was at Buckingham Palace recently and it looks like Fawlty Towers. Once a grand, lovely space, it now has a feeling of a shuffy old golf hotel, which smells of cabbage and sticky carpets."‌Laurence, who now hosts the True Royalty podcast, also reflected on the Duchess of Sussex's transition into royal life, suggesting she had unrealistic expectations of what it would be like."I think she felt that she was in The Princess Diaries and mistook joining the British royal family for Genovia," he said.He also addressed the ongoing rift between Prince Harry and the Royal Family, saying he believed it would be particularly painful for King Charles as a grandfather.‌"I might live quite close to the King, but he keeps very close counsel on that. I'm sure it's a source of great sadness that he doesn't have easy access to Harry and his grandchildren. As a grandfather myself, it would break my heart not to see my silly, foolish, flighty grandchildren every day."Away from royal life, Laurence opened up about his 37-year marriage to wife Jackie, whom he first met as a teenager. He credited her with playing a key role in both his career and personal life.‌"We've done everything together. Me being on telly and everything I've achieved has been with her motivating it and calling the shots. We are such incredible friends and have this great life with more than enough gin, because that is the secret to a happy life," he said.The 61-year-old also joked that his wife has ruled out any future reality TV appearances following his dramatic stint on Celebrity Bear Hunt. During the Netflix series, he had to be rescued after passing out underneath an overturned raft while taking part in a challenge led by Bear Grylls in Costa Rica.‌"I loved it! Despite the whole dying thing," he said before adding: "It was an extraordinary experience. In my head, I was James Bond, but in reality, I was Grandpa Pig."I've been prancing my way across the television screens for 30 years, but always in my own comfort zone, so I liked the idea of pushing it. But maybe I went too far."He added: "Mrs Llewelyn-Bowen has forbidden me from doing anything. I can't even do Bake Off because the cherry falls off the top of the cake and hits me in the eye."‌In recent years, Laurence has also turned his attention to painting, describing it as a creative "reinvention", while continuing to enjoy life in the Cotswolds.He and his family have lived in a Grade II-listed 17th-century manor house in the Gloucestershire village of Siddington since 2007. Laurence has previously praised nearby Cirencester for its thriving independent businesses, saying he prefers its entrepreneurial spirit to the celebrity culture often associated with other parts of the Cotswolds.Article continues below"It's all about start-ups," he said. "It's all about people who've got a real passion for what they do, be that furnishing accessories, be that fashion, be that coffee, be that restaurants. We've got some incredible restaurants in Cirencester now as well."He also highlighted some of the area's biggest attractions, including the "wonderful" Corinium Museum, where visitors can discover Cirencester's Roman history through its mosaics and artefacts, as well as The Barn Theatre.