Buckingham Palace Will Remain the Monarchy’s Central Hub

King Charles III and Queen Camilla will continue living at Clarence House even after the £369 million refurbishment of Buckingham Palace is completed next year, according to the latest royal financial accounts.

Although Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain’s monarch since 1837, it will remain primarily the administrative and ceremonial headquarters of the monarchy rather than the King’s main home.

Palace officials said one of the reasons behind the decision is to allow greater public access to the historic building. The extensive 10-year restoration project, scheduled for completion in March, has focused on replacing outdated electrical wiring, lead pipes, boilers and other ageing infrastructure to reduce the risk of fire and water damage. Many of these systems had not been upgraded for around six decades.

King Charles has lived at Clarence House since 2003, and Queen Camilla joined him there after their marriage in 2005. Sources said the couple, now both in their late 70s, did not want the disruption involved in relocating themselves and their household staff to Buckingham Palace. Security considerations also influenced the decision, as a full-time royal residence at the palace would likely reduce the number of areas accessible to visitors.

Keeping Clarence House as the King’s primary residence could allow Buckingham Palace to welcome tourists for longer periods throughout the year, increasing visitor revenue. At present, the palace’s State Rooms are open during the summer and on selected dates during the rest of the year, with ticket proceeds supporting the Royal Collection Trust, the charity responsible for preserving the royal art collection.

Despite not living there, King Charles will continue using Buckingham Palace for official duties, including state banquets, garden parties, diplomatic receptions, audiences with the Prime Minister and meetings with newly appointed ambassadors.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the King has “great affection” for the palace and remains committed to its role at the heart of royal and public life, describing it as a “busy centre of royal activity.”

The announcement has prompted criticism from some campaigners. Former Liberal Democrat minister Norman Baker argued that if the palace is no longer the monarch’s primary residence, it should be opened to visitors year-round, with ticket revenue directed to the UK Treasury to help offset refurbishment costs.

Graham Smith, chief executive of the campaign group Republic, questioned the value of the expensive renovation if the King does not intend to live there, calling for Buckingham Palace to be fully accessible to the public throughout the year.

When the King is in London, the Royal Standard continues to fly over both Buckingham Palace and Clarence House.

James Chalmers, Keeper of the Privy Purse, said the King and Queen will still have access to private rooms within Buckingham Palace during working days, with the accommodation also available for future residential use if needed. He stressed that while the residential arrangements are changing, Buckingham Palace will remain the ceremonial and operational centre of the British monarchy.

With the refurbishment nearing completion, the Sovereign Grant—which funds the monarchy’s official duties—is expected to decrease from £137.9 million to £99.9 million in the 2027–28 financial year. However, this will remain significantly higher than the core grant levels of recent years.