King and Queen to Continue Living at Clarence House, Not Buckingham Palace

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, June 27, 2026

King Charles III and Queen Camilla will remain living at Clarence House instead of moving into Buckingham Palace to allow greater public access to the historic palace. This move, along with ongoing renovations and transparent tax disclosures by the royal family, signals a shift toward a more open and modern monarchy while maintaining Buckingham Palace as the central venue for official royal duties.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla will continue to reside at Clarence House, rather than moving into Buckingham Palace, a decision announced as part of efforts to expand public access to the historic royal residence. The choice aims to increase the areas of the palace available to visitors, which would be restricted if the monarch were in residence.

James Chalmers, keeper of the Privy Purse, confirmed that after careful consideration, the royal couple decided to maintain Clarence House as their London home. However, they will retain access to private rooms within Buckingham Palace for use during working days and potentially as residential quarters in the future. Despite this change, Buckingham Palace will remain the ceremonial and operational center of the monarchy, continuing as the hub for official royal activities and events.

The palace, which has undergone a £369 million renovation project over the past decade to upgrade infrastructure such as boilers and electrical systems, is expected to complete the work by March 2027. Buckingham Palace has long served as a symbol of British monarchy since Queen Victoria established it as the official royal residence in 1837. The residence hosted Queen Elizabeth II’s final overnight stay on March 18, 2020, shortly before the first COVID-19 lockdown.

A palace spokesperson emphasized that the building will remain a "buzzing hive of royal activity," hosting garden parties, receptions, and audiences with ambassadors. The sovereign’s standard continues to fly from Buckingham Palace or Clarence House whenever the King is in London, denoting his presence.

In related announcements released simultaneously, King Charles III became the first reigning British monarch to disclose his tax payments, revealing bills of £11.7 million for 2023-24 and £12.9 million for 2024-25. Since his accession in 2022, he has paid over £30 million in taxes. Similarly, the Prince of Wales, Prince William, published his tax details for the first time, reporting payments of £8.34 million in 2023-24 and £7.76 million in 2024-25 in income and capital gains tax.

The Sovereign Grant, which funds the King’s official duties and staff, will increase by £45.8 million to reach £132.1 million for 2025-26. Its core component, covering expenses such as travel, property upkeep, and payroll, is projected to nearly double from £51.8 million in 2024-25 to £99.9 million in 2027-28. Prince William’s most costly overseas official trip was a charter flight to Saudi Arabia in February, costing £130,106.

There is ongoing speculation regarding whether Prince William will reside at Buckingham Palace upon becoming monarch, particularly after relocating his family to Forest Lodge in Windsor.

The decision to maintain Clarence House as the King and Queen’s residence marks a departure from longstanding tradition but reflects an evolving royal household focused on enhancing public engagement with one of the nation’s most iconic heritage sites.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.