Clarence House is to become the King’s official London residence
in one of the most significant constitutional shifts of Charles’s
reign, ending nearly 190 years in which Buckingham Palace has
served as the monarch’s principal home.
The decision means King Charles and Queen Camilla will remain at
Clarence House even after the £369 million refurbishment of
Buckingham Palace is completed next year, with the historic palace
instead continuing as the ceremonial and administrative
headquarters of the monarchy.
The move marks a striking departure from royal tradition. Since
Queen Victoria established Buckingham Palace as the sovereign’s
official residence in 1837, it has been both the monarch’s home and
the centre of royal life. Charles has now decided that Clarence
House, where he and Camilla have lived since their marriage in
2005, will continue to fulfil that role for the remainder of his
reign.
Palace officials said the decision was reached after “careful
consideration” and would allow Buckingham Palace to welcome more
visitors while preserving its position as the nation’s foremost
royal building.
Rather than relocating themselves and their household once the
decade-long renovation project is complete, the King and Queen will
continue living next door, with Buckingham Palace remaining the
venue for state banquets, investitures, diplomatic receptions,
audiences with the Prime Minister and other major royal
occasions.
James Chalmers, the Keeper of the Privy Purse, said the King and
Queen would continue to have access to private apartments within
Buckingham Palace where they could retire during the working day or
stay overnight when necessary. However, he made clear that Clarence
House would remain their permanent London residence.
He described the arrangement as “a change from the past and a
recognition of the future”, while insisting Buckingham Palace would
continue to function as “the ceremonial and operational centre of
royal life”. A palace spokesperson said the building would remain
“a buzzing hive of royal activity”.
Officials believe the new arrangement will allow greater public
access to Buckingham Palace by reducing the security restrictions
that inevitably accompany a monarch living there full time. The
palace already opens its State Rooms during the summer and on
selected dates throughout the year, with longer opening periods
expected to generate additional visitor income.
The decision also reflects practical considerations. Both
Charles and Camilla are now in their late seventies and are
understood to have had little appetite for moving themselves and
dozens of staff into Buckingham Palace after more than two decades
at Clarence House.
The extensive refurbishment programme, due to conclude next
March, has involved replacing ageing electrical wiring, plumbing,
lead pipework and boilers, much of which had remained untouched for
around 60 years. The work was commissioned to reduce the risk of
catastrophic fire and water damage while modernising one of
Britain’s most recognisable buildings.
The announcement was made alongside the publication of the Royal
Household’s annual financial accounts, which revealed that Charles
has become the first British monarch to publish details of the tax
he pays.
The King paid £12.9 million in income and capital gains tax
during the 2024-25 financial year, following a payment of £11.7
million the previous year. Although there is no legal requirement
for the sovereign to pay tax, the practice has continued
voluntarily since 1993.
The accounts also showed that the temporary increase in the
Sovereign Grant used to finance Buckingham Palace’s refurbishment
will come to an end, with public funding falling from £137.9
million to £99.9 million from 2027-28. Even so, the grant will
remain significantly higher than before the refurbishment began,
with additional funding earmarked for maintenance across the
occupied royal estate, cybersecurity improvements and new
energy-efficient heating systems.
The Guardian reported that Clarence House is now expected to
remain the King’s London residence for the duration of his reign,
although it is not yet known whether the Prince of Wales will
restore Buckingham Palace as the sovereign’s primary home when he
eventually succeeds his father.
