King Charles III to Forego Buckingham Palace Residence Post-Renovation

King Charles III will break with nearly two centuries of tradition by not living in Buckingham Palace following its extensive $487 million refurbishment. Royal officials confirmed that while the palace will remain the "ceremonial and operational center" of the monarchy, the King and Queen Camilla will continue to reside at Clarence House, their nearby London residence.

The decision marks a significant shift from the practice of British monarchs using Buckingham Palace as their primary London home since Queen Victoria. The palace, built in the 1820s, contains 775 rooms and serves as an administrative hub and venue for state dinners. By choosing to live at Clarence House, where Charles resided as Prince of Wales, the royal couple will allow Buckingham Palace to increase public access, host more events, and expand visitor tours.

Buckingham Palace, a focal point for national celebrations and announcements, has been undergoing a 10-year program initiated in 2017 to update its aging infrastructure, including plumbing, wiring, and heating. This project is scheduled for completion next year, aiming to ensure the building can house the monarchy for another 50 years. The palace currently attracts approximately 700,000 visitors annually.

In a separate development, King Charles became the first British monarch to publicly disclose his tax payments. During a briefing on royal finances, it was revealed that he paid $16.1 million in income and capital gains taxes for the 2024-25 financial year, an increase from the previous year's $15.4 million.

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It is and will remain Monarchy HQ, the crown jewel of our national buildings.