King Charles III to forgo Buckingham Palace residence post-renovation

King Charles III will not make Buckingham Palace his official residence following the completion of a decade-long, $487 million renovation. The historic building will remain the "ceremonial and operational centre" of the British monarchy, but the King and Queen Camilla will continue to reside at their nearby Clarence House.

This decision aims to increase public access to the palace, which has been central to royal life for nearly two centuries. James Chalmers, the senior royal official overseeing the King's finances, described Buckingham Palace as "the crown jewel of our national buildings."

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

The announcement coincided with a significant disclosure: King Charles III became the first British monarch to publicly reveal his personal tax payments. For the 2024-25 financial year, he paid £12.9 million (US$16.1 million) in income and capital gains taxes, an increase from the previous year.

This move towards transparency extends to Prince William, who also released his tax details, showing payments of £7.76 million for the same period. The King's decision to forgo privacy regarding his tax affairs is seen as an effort to further distinguish the current monarchy from past controversies and to emphasize its role as a public institution.

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If they’re open and as transparent as possible, then the contrast with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor becomes all the greater.