King and Queen to Remain at Clarence House After Buckingham Palace Renovations
King Charles and Queen Camilla will not reside at Buckingham Palace following the completion of £369 million refurbishment works scheduled for next year, according to the latest royal financial accounts.
The palace, which has been the official London residence of the UK sovereign since 1837, will continue to serve as the administrative headquarters of the monarchy. However, the King has chosen to maintain Clarence House, located nearby, as his official home.
This decision aims to facilitate increased public access to Buckingham Palace, officials have stated.
A decade-long refurbishment of Buckingham Palace, financed through a temporary increase in the Sovereign Grant—which funds the official duties of the royal family—is expected to conclude in March.
Queen Victoria was the first monarch to establish Buckingham Palace as the official seat of court in 1837.
The renovation involves replacing aging infrastructure including cables, lead pipes, wiring, and boilers, many of which have not been updated in 60 years, due to concerns over potential fire and water damage.
Since their marriage in 2005, the King and Queen have lived together at Clarence House, adjacent to St James's Palace, which was formerly the residence of the Queen Mother.
Both in their late seventies, it is understood that the couple preferred to avoid the disruption of relocating themselves and their staff to Buckingham Palace.
Security considerations also influenced the decision; the King's residence at Buckingham Palace could restrict visitor numbers and limit accessible areas.
Maintaining Clarence House as their residence may allow Buckingham Palace to extend its public opening periods, thereby increasing revenue. Currently, the State Rooms are open to visitors each summer and on selected dates throughout the year.
The King will continue to host various official events at Buckingham Palace, including state banquets, garden parties, receptions, and audiences with the Prime Minister and new ambassadors.
"His Majesty retains huge affection for Buckingham Palace and a deep respect for its role in royal and public life," said a palace spokesperson. "It will be a buzzing hive of royal activity in every other way."
When in London, the King’s Royal Standard is flown from both Buckingham Palace and Clarence House.
James Chalmers, Keeper of the Privy Purse, explained that under the new arrangements, the King and Queen will have access to private rooms within Buckingham Palace for use during the working day, which could also serve as potential residential accommodation in the future.
"This is both a change from the past and a recognition of the future. Let me be clear, however, that in all other ways Buckingham Palace will continue to be both the ceremonial and operational centre of royal life," he said.
Queen Elizabeth II delivered her Christmas message from Buckingham Palace in 2018.
Financial Transparency and Sovereign Grant Details
The announcement is included in the royal accounts, which reveal that King Charles is the first monarch to publicly disclose his tax payments. The records show he was among the UK's top 100 taxpayers in 2024-25, paying £12.9 million, and £11.7 million in 2023-24.
The accounts also detail an increase in the Sovereign Grant, which provides state funding for the monarchy. A temporary uplift to the core grant was implemented from 2017 to finance the Buckingham Palace overhaul.
As the refurbishment concludes, the overall Sovereign Grant will decrease from £137.9 million to £99.9 million in 2027-28. However, this amount will remain nearly double the core grant of £51.8 million in 2024-25 and exceed the £72.1 million core grant in 2025-26.
The uplift will support maintenance backlogs at occupied royal palaces, enhance cybersecurity at royal residences, and fund the installation of energy-efficient heating systems.
Additionally, £11 million has been allocated to replace boilers nearing the end of their service life at Windsor Castle.
Historical Context and Significance
Buckingham Palace has hosted hundreds of state banquets over the years.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth resided at Buckingham Palace during World War Two, including in 1942.
Not since Queen Victoria’s reign has a monarch chosen to live away from Buckingham Palace. She was the first to use the palace as the official seat of court and, after marrying Prince Albert, transformed the 775-room building to accommodate their family, entertain guests, and conduct official business.
Following Prince Albert's death, Queen Victoria spent extended periods away from Buckingham Palace.
The palace was also closely associated with Queen Elizabeth II, who gave birth to Prince Charles and Prince Andrew there and maintained an apartment within the residence.
Renovations on Buckingham Palace are scheduled to finish in March.
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