King Charles will not live in Buckingham Palace after refurbishment , Royal officials confirm

King Charles will not take up residence at Buckingham Palace once its decade-long refurbishment is completed next year, royal officials have confirmed, ending nearly two centuries of tradition that saw the London landmark serve as the British monarch's primary residence.

King Charles will not take up residence at Buckingham Palace once its decade-long refurbishment is completed next year, royal officials have confirmed, ending nearly two centuries of tradition that saw the London landmark serve as the British monarch’s primary residence. The decision means Charles will remain at Clarence House, his longstanding London home nearby, even as the palace undergoes a £369 million ($487 million) renovation to replace ageing electrical wiring, pipes, and other infrastructure.

The announcement came as officials also disclosed that the king paid £12.9 million ($17.0 million) in tax in 2024/25, the first time such a figure has been made public and placing him among Britain’s top 100 taxpayers. Members of the royal family have promised greater transparency about their finances amid growing scrutiny and criticism since the death of Queen Elizabeth in 2022.

James Chalmers, the king’s treasurer, known as the Keeper of the Privy Purse, confirmed that Buckingham Palace would remain the primary venue for ceremonial and official functions, including hosting state visits. “It 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,” he told reporters. However, neither Charles nor the late Queen Elizabeth had stayed overnight at the palace since 2019, and the king will only maintain private rooms there for potential accommodation.

When work on the refurbishment began in 2017, officials had expected the palace to remain the monarch’s primary London residence, as it had been since Queen Victoria became sovereign in 1837. Some 700,000 people visit the building annually, and it remains a key symbol of the British monarchy.

The tax disclosure comes amid ongoing debates about royal finances. Media revelations in 2024 that the Duchy of Lancaster and heir-to-the-throne Prince William’s Duchy of Cornwall estate were charging Britain’s health service, army, and schools rent generated criticism, as did details this month about royal property arrangements. William’s office said he had paid £7.76 million in tax in 2024/25 and instructed that £1.5 million in rent from a closed prison go to the local community.

Critics, however, have argued that royal finances still remain opaque. Graham Smith, chief executive of anti-monarchy campaign group Republic, said: “Another hike for Charles, more spin and gloss and more misdirection on taxes. This is the way with royal reporting: the more they reveal, the more questions are raised.” The king’s decision not to live in Buckingham Palace, while maintaining it as a ceremonial headquarters, reflects a modernizing approach to the monarchy while navigating ongoing scrutiny of its financial arrangements.