King Charles Will Keep Clarence House as Home; Buckingham Palace to Remain Official but Not Residential After Refurbishment

King Charles and Queen Camilla will not move into Buckingham Palace after its £369 million refurbishment ends next year. The palace will continue to serve as the administrative headquarters of the monarchy, while Clarence House remains the King's official home. A 10-year renovation funded by a temporary increase in the Sovereign Grant is scheduled for completion in March.

Workers will replace ageing cables, lead pipes, wiring and boilers, many for the first time in 60 years. The King has lived at Clarence House since 2003 and with the Queen since their 2005 marriage. The King will continue to host state banquets, garden parties, receptions and audiences with the prime minister and new ambassadors at Buckingham Palace.

James Chalmers, keeper of the Privy Purse, said the King and Queen would have access to private rooms in the palace for working days and possible future residential use. The accounts show the King paid £12.9 million in tax for 2024-25, up from £11.7 million the previous year. The Sovereign Grant will fall from £137.9 million to £99.9 million in 2027-28 once the temporary uplift ends.

The core grant stood at £51.8 million in 2024-25 and will rise to £72.1 million in 2025-26. An additional £11 million has been set aside to replace boilers at Windsor Castle. The late Queen last stayed overnight at Buckingham Palace on 18 March 2020.

Chalmers stated that in all other ways the palace will remain the ceremonial and operational centre of royal life.