King Charles, Queen Camilla to forgo Buckingham Palace residence after £369m refit

King Charles and Queen Camilla have decided not to move into Buckingham Palace following its extensive £369 million renovation. Instead, they will continue to reside at their nearby London home, Clarence House, for the duration of Charles's reign.

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careful consideration and to greatly increase opportunities for public access

The announcement, made by James Chalmers, the king's accountant and keeper of the privy purse, stated that the decision was made after careful consideration and with the goal of "greatly increasing opportunities for public access." While they will not live there, the King and Queen will have access to private rooms for daytime use and occasional overnight stays. Buckingham Palace will remain the "monarchy HQ" and the "ceremonial and operational centre of royal life."

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is and will remain monarchy HQ, the crown jewel of our national buildings, with the sovereign’s standard flying proudly from the roof whenever his majesty is in London

This decision coincides with the release of royal financial figures. King Charles paid £12.9 million in income and capital gains tax in 2024-25 on his personal income, making him one of the country's top 100 taxpayers. Prince William also paid a significant amount, £7.76 million, for the same period. The sovereign grant, public funds allocated for the King's official duties, is set to nearly double from £51.8 million in 2024-25 to £99.9 million from 2027-28.

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The palace will continue in every traditional way to be the beating heart of the monarchy, just not its resting head

Buckingham Palace has served as a royal residence since Queen Victoria's accession in 1837. Tax campaigner Dan Neidle criticized the limited financial disclosures as a "sideshow," calling for greater transparency. Anti-monarchy group Republic's CEO, Graham Smith, also raised concerns about the vast sums involved.

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sideshow