King Charles and Queen Camilla will not move into Buckingham Palace when its decade-long refurbishment ends in 2027. Instead, they will continue living at Clarence House nearby, the royal household confirmed today [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Buckingham Palace, the primary London residence of British monarchs since Queen Victoria’s reign beginning in 1837, is undergoing a £369 million renovation that started in 2017 [1, 2, 6, 3, 4, 5]. The extensive work includes replacing electrical wiring, pipes, and heating systems to ensure the building’s long-term safety and functionality [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
James Chalmers, King Charles’s treasurer and keeper of the privy purse, said the palace "is and will remain monarchy HQ, the crown jewel of our national buildings, with the sovereign’s standard flying proudly from the roof whenever his majesty is in London" [1]. He added that the sovereign’s decision followed "careful consideration and to greatly increase opportunities for public access," noting the royal couple will remain at Clarence House "for the duration of his reign" [2].
A royal spokesperson said, "The palace will continue in every traditional way to be the beating heart of the monarchy, just not its resting head," referring to its continued ceremonial role despite not serving as the king’s main residence [2]. Chalmers emphasized that Buckingham Palace will stay the "primary venue for ceremonial and official functions, including receiving foreign dignitaries" [4].
King Charles will maintain private rooms at the palace for occasional use, but neither he nor Queen Elizabeth II has stayed overnight there since 2019 [1, 2, 6, 5]. Approximately 700,000 people visit Buckingham Palace annually, with plans for increased public access after renovations conclude [1, 4, 5].
The Sovereign Grant, government funding for the monarchy’s official duties, is expected to peak at £137.9 million in the 2026-27 financial year as the refurbishment wraps up before dropping to £99.9 million in 2027-28 [1, 2, 5]. Meanwhile, King Charles will receive around £25.2 million in private income from the Duchy of Lancaster and other holdings in 2025-26 [1].
King Charles voluntarily paid £12.9 million in income and capital gains tax for the tax year 2024-25, ranking among Britain’s top 100 taxpayers. Prince William paid £7.76 million in tax for the same period [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
The Buckingham Palace restoration, a £369 million project, is scheduled for completion in March 2027, after which the royal household will finalize plans for public access and official functions [5].
