King Charles III to Remain at Clarence House After Buckingham Palace Renovation
Following a decade-long £369 million refurbishment, King Charles III announced he will continue to work from Buckingham Palace but will reside at Clarence House, while also disclosing his personal tax payments for the first time as monarch.
King Charles III said he will not take up residence in Buckingham Palace after the completion of a ten-year, £369 million renovation, opting instead to remain at nearby Clarence House. The palace will continue to serve as the "ceremonial and operational centre" of the monarchy, with the king and Queen Consort Camilla retaining their offices there.
James Chalmers, the senior royal official overseeing the king’s finances, described Buckingham Palace as "Monarchy HQ, the crown jewel of our national buildings" and said the move will allow greater public access, including more events, tours and visitor numbers, which already total about 700,000 annually.
The announcement was made during a briefing on royal finances in which Charles disclosed that he paid £12.9 million in income and capital-gains taxes for the 2024-25 fiscal year, up from £11.7 million the previous year. Prince William also released his tax figures, reporting £7.76 million paid in the same period.
The decision comes as the royal family seeks to modernise its image amid ongoing scrutiny of other family members. Constitutional law expert Craig Prescott noted that increased transparency on the king’s finances could help distinguish the institution from recent controversies.