King Charles III rejects move to Buckingham Palace even after £369m refurbishment

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla will not move into Buckingham Palace even after its major refurbishment is completed in March 2027. The news emerged in the British monarchy’s annual financial report. Despite renovation works costing £369 million, the King’s official residence will remain Clarence House, where he has lived since 2003. Afisha.London takes a closer look.

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Buckingham Palace, which has served as the official London residence of British monarchs since 1837, will retain its primary ceremonial and administrative role. It will continue to host state banquets, receptions for foreign leaders, meetings with the Prime Minister, garden parties and other official engagements. However, it will no longer function as the monarch’s permanent home.

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According to palace officials, the decision reflects several practical considerations. First, relocating would require significant changes to the King’s daily routine and to the operations of his household staff. Secondly, having the monarch in permanent residence at Buckingham Palace would inevitably restrict public access due to heightened security requirements. By remaining at Clarence House, Charles allows the historic palace to welcome visitors more frequently and for longer periods, increasing revenue from public tours.

Букингемский Дворец. Фото: Ferdinand Stöhr / Unsplash

The ongoing refurbishment includes the replacement of electrical wiring, plumbing, heating systems and boilers — much of which had not been upgraded for more than 60 years. Work began in 2017 after warnings over fire risks and potential structural damage caused by ageing infrastructure.

The King will still have access to a number of private rooms within Buckingham Palace, where he can rest between official engagements or stay overnight when necessary. Yet Clarence House will remain his principal home. For the first time since the reign of Queen Victoria, a reigning British monarch has consciously chosen not to live at Buckingham Palace.

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The announcement regarding the future of Buckingham Palace was released alongside the royal family’s annual financial report. For the first time in modern royal history, the report also disclosed the amount of tax paid by the reigning monarch. King Charles III voluntarily revealed that he paid £12.9 million in tax during the 2024–25 financial year, placing him among the UK’s 100 largest taxpayers. A detailed breakdown of those payments, however, has not been made public. Palace officials described the disclosure as a step towards greater transparency in royal finances.

The monarchy’s public funding structure will also change once the palace refurbishment is complete. Funds previously allocated to the restoration of Buckingham Palace will be redirected towards maintaining other royal residences, strengthening cybersecurity, and modernising infrastructure — including the transition to more energy-efficient systems.

Cover photo: Jacob Cartwright / Unsplash

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