LONDON, June 26 (Parliament Politics Magazine) – King Charles III and Queen Camilla will not move into Buckingham Palace following the completion of its 10-year, £369 million refurbishment program. Royal officials confirmed that Clarence House will remain their official London residence for the duration of his reign, breaking nearly two centuries of tradition dating back to Queen Victoria’s accession in 1837.
The palace will firmly remain the primary venue for ceremonial and official functions, including hosting state visits. James Chalmers, the King’s treasurer and Keeper of the Privy Purse, noted that it remains the Monarchy HQ. The Royal Standard will continue to fly from the roof whenever the King is in London, and he will maintain private rooms to use as daytime accommodation or for short stays.
Major functions such as state banquets, garden parties, and iconic balcony appearances are completely unaffected by the decision. Neither Charles nor the late Queen Elizabeth II had stayed overnight at the palace since 2019.
Royal officials cited several factors for maintaining the status quo at Clarence House. Staying at the current residence allows the Royal Household to expand public tours and host more events at Buckingham Palace, which already sees roughly 700,000 visitors annually. Officials noted that having the King in permanent residence creates heavy security restrictions that would drastically limit public access to the building.
The King and Queen also chose to avoid the immense logistical disruption of moving themselves and their staff across London. Additionally, biographers and insiders have noted that the 775-room palace is often viewed as an impersonal, massive blend of state rooms and administrative offices rather than a cozy home.
The announcement was made alongside a significant push for financial transparency. During the same briefing, Charles became the first British monarch to publicly disclose his tax details. He paid £12.9 million in income and capital gains taxes for the 2024/25 financial year, placing him among the United Kingdom’s top 100 taxpayers.
Chalmers stated that the King paid £11.7 million in tax in 2023/24 and more than £30 million in total since becoming King in 2022. The King receives a private income from the Duchy of Lancaster estate, which amounted to £25.2 million in 2025/26. He also receives the Sovereign Grant, a payment from the government based on a percentage of profits from the Crown Estate.
The Sovereign Grant rose from £86 million in 2024/25 to £132 million the following year and is expected to be £137.9 million in 2026/27. However, Chalmers confirmed it would be cut for the first time in 2027/28 to £100 million, a level where it will remain until 2031/32.
“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,” Chalmers told reporters.
The decision comes amid broader scrutiny of royal finances following media reports in 2024 regarding rental agreements on Duchy estates. While the palace will continue its vital role in state affairs, the departure from the tradition of residing within its walls marks a significant shift in how the modern monarchy manages its properties and public profile.
