King Charles to stay at Clarence House after Buckingham Palace refurbishment ends next year

King Charles will not make Buckingham Palace his primary residence after its extensive 10-year refurbishment is completed next year, royal officials announced Thursday. This decision ends a tradition stretching back to Queen Victoria in 1837, when the palace became the monarch's main London home.

Instead, the King will continue living at Clarence House, his nearby longtime residence. The £369 million refurbishment project, which began in 2017, involved replacing aging electrical wiring, pipes, and heating systems. While the King will not reside there, Buckingham Palace will remain the "monarchy HQ" and the "crown jewel of our national buildings," according to James Chalmers, the king's treasurer. It will continue to be the main venue for ceremonial events and hosting foreign dignitaries.

Officials also revealed that King Charles paid £12.9 million in taxes for the 2024/25 fiscal year. This marks the first time such a figure has been publicly disclosed, positioning him among Britain's top 100 taxpayers. This move towards greater financial transparency follows criticism after Queen Elizabeth's death in 2022. The King voluntarily pays income, capital gains, and inheritance taxes, similar to his mother's practice after 1993, though amounts were not previously revealed. His private income from the Duchy of Lancaster estate was £25.2 million in 2025/26.

While Charles and the late Queen Elizabeth have not stayed overnight at the palace since 2019, the King will retain private rooms there for potential accommodation. Officials anticipate greater public access to the building, which currently hosts around 700,000 visitors annually. The palace's role as a working royal headquarters will continue, even as its function as a royal home concludes.

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It 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.