Buckingham Palace will not house a resident monarch for the first time in its history, despite the completion of a decade-long, £369 million taxpayer-funded refurbishment, officials confirmed Thursday.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla will continue to reside at Clarence House, their London home since 2003. Prince William, upon his eventual accession to the throne, has stated his intention to remain at his private residence, Forest Lodge in Windsor, with his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales.
This marks a significant shift from tradition, as the palace, first occupied by Queen Victoria in 1837, will instead be opened more extensively to the public to generate income and reduce the financial burden on taxpayers. Senior royal aides emphasized that the palace will remain the operational and ceremonial heart of the monarchy, referred to as "Monarchy HQ" and the "Crown Jewel of our national buildings."
The King will continue to use private rooms within the palace for working days when in London, but will not reside there overnight. Royal Household operations will also remain based at the palace, ensuring it functions as a modern workplace. The Sovereign's standard will continue to fly from the roof when the King is in London.
Financial Disclosures
The decision coincides with a more transparent annual financial review from Buckingham Palace. King Charles voluntarily paid £12.9 million in taxes for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, bringing his total voluntary tax payments since taking the throne to over £30 million. He is the first monarch to publish his tax bill.
Prince William also voluntarily paid £7.7 million in personal income tax and capital gains tax. As owner of the Duchy of Cornwall, he charged his father over £500,000 in rent last year for the continued use of Highgrove, his Gloucestershire estate.
The core funding for the monarchy is set to increase to £100 million annually, nearly doubling in three years. This increase is designated for addressing a backlog of maintenance at royal palaces, enhancing cybersecurity at royal residences, and installing energy-efficient heating systems. Royal aides maintain that this funding does not represent a "blank cheque" and that the monarchy provides good value and public service, with funding to remain stable for the next five years.
A Shift in Royal Living
James Chalmers, the Keeper of the Privy Purse, outlined that the decision to not reside at Buckingham Palace was made after careful consideration, driven partly by the King's desire to increase public access to royal residences and lessen the taxpayer burden. He also noted the King's personal comfort at Clarence House.
Queen Elizabeth II also spent limited time at Buckingham Palace in her later years, preferring Windsor Castle. Her last overnight stay was in March 2020, after which ongoing refurbishment of her private suite made it uninhabitable. The extensive renovations were deemed necessary due to significant disrepair, with parts of the palace dating back to World War II showing signs of crumbling.
While assurances were previously given that a monarch would return after the refurbishment, royal officials indicated in recent years that it was only "intended." The current decision reflects a move towards greater public access and a rebalancing of the palace's use. Despite the change in residence, aides stressed that the public would see little difference in the palace's role as the primary workplace and ceremonial center of royal life.