King Charles III will no longer live at Buckingham Palace after his 10-year renovation program ends next year, royal officials said Thursday.
The King and Queen Camilla will instead continue to live at Clarence House, their former London home nearby.
James Chalmers, the King’s Treasurer and Keeper of the Privy Purse, said that Buckingham Palace would remain the primary venue for ceremonial and official functions, including receiving foreign dignitaries.
“This is and will remain the monarchy’s headquarters, the crown of our national edifice,” Chalmers told reporters.
Buckingham Palace – the center of the British monarchy for almost 200 years
Buckingham Palace has been the primary London residence of the British monarch for nearly two centuries, since Queen Victoria became sovereign in 1837.
The 775-room building not only serves as the official residence of the emperor, but also provides office space for the imperial bureaucracy and hosts lavish state dinners for foreign leaders.
The palace is currently undergoing massive renovation.
Work began in 2017 and is expected to be completed next year, with the total cost estimated at £369 million (€428.2 million, $486.7 million).
The project includes replacing old electrical wiring, pipes and heating.
Every year around 700,000 people visit this building. There will be more public access, the official said, without giving details.
Charles releases tax declaration
On Thursday, Charles also released to the public details of his personal taxes paid to the government, the first time he has done so since becoming monarch in 2022.
Officials revealed the monarch paid £12.9million in tax in 2024/25.
This figure places the king among the top 100 taxpayers in Britain.
By law, the British monarch is not obliged to pay income, capital gains or inheritance tax.
But Charles, like his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, has done so voluntarily since 1993, without disclosing the amounts.
personal income of millions
The British monarch receives money from the government, known as the Sovereign Grant, to pay for staff, royal palaces and travel.
But like all kings since 1399, Charles also receives millions of pounds of personal income from the vast Duchy of Lancaster estate as well as his other investments.
Meanwhile, heir to the throne Prince William paid £7.76 million in tax in 2024/25.
The announcements come as the royal family’s reputation has taken a hit following months of embarrassing headlines about the relationship between the former Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Edited by: Shawn Sinico