King Charles to remain at Clarence House as Buckingham Palace stays official venue
The monarch will continue to live at Clarence House after the Buckingham Palace refurbishment, which will be used solely for state functions, officials said.
London – King Charles III will not take up residence in Buckingham Palace once the £369 million renovation is completed in spring 2027. The palace will remain the headquarters of the monarchy and host state banquets, garden parties and investitures, but it will no longer serve as a private home. The king and queen will stay at their current London residence, Clarence House, while the refurbishment of the 775-room building proceeds.
A palace spokesperson said, > "The Palace will continue in every traditional way to be the beating heart of the Monarchy, just not its resting head." The decision follows the annual royal finance report, which disclosed that Charles and Prince William have paid more than £50 million in taxes since the king’s accession.
The report showed the king paid £12.9 million in income and capital-gains tax for the 2024-25 fiscal year, placing him among the top 100 taxpayers in the UK. Prince William paid £7.76 million on income from the Duchy of Cornwall and capital-gains tax. Both Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace will continue to publish their tax bills each year, reviewed by independent accountants.
Royal commentator Phil Dampier criticised the plan, calling it “a big mistake” that could provoke public outcry over the costly refurbishment and risk turning the palace into a museum-like attraction. The palace, which has not housed a resident monarch since March 2020, will be more accessible to visitors if no royal family members live there, officials added.