LONDON (AP) — King Charles III will not live at Buckingham Palace after the completion of a 10-year, £369 million ($487 million) refurbishment program as the monarchy seeks to increase public access to the historic building that has been the center of royal life for almost 200 years.
Royal officials stressed that the king and Queen Camilla would continue to work out of the palace, which will remain "the ceremonial and operational center" of the monarchy. But for the rest of Charles' reign, the king and queen will reside at nearby Clarence House, where Charles lived as Prince of Wales.
"It is and will remain Monarchy HQ, the crown jewel of our national buildings," said James Chalmers, the senior royal official responsible for managing the king's financial affairs.
The decision was announced Thursday during a briefing on royal finances at which Charles became the first British monarch to publicly reveal the taxes he paid. The king paid £12.9 million ($16.1 million) in income and capital gains taxes in the 2024-25 financial year, up from £11.7 million the previous year.
What the Right Is Saying
Traditionalist voices expressed concern about what they characterize as an unconventional approach to one of Britain's most important institutions. Buckingham Palace has served as the London residence of every monarch since Queen Victoria in the 1820s.
"I'm hoping for a second act in terms of this decision," said Ed Owens, author of "After Elizabeth: Can the Monarchy Save Itself." He told The Associated Press that it would be a shame if the building "lies vacant for much of the year" without a clear purpose. Royal watchers are awaiting more details about plans for the palace.
Some defenders of tradition argue that the monarch's primary residence should remain at Buckingham Palace regardless of refurbishment costs, viewing the decision as a departure from established protocol that has defined the British monarchy for generations.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive voices welcomed both announcements as signs that the monarchy is adapting to modern expectations of transparency and public accountability. The decision to open Buckingham Palace to more visitors aligns with arguments that royal assets should serve the British public rather than sit vacant for most of the year.
"If they're open and as transparent as possible, then the contrast with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor becomes all the greater," said Craig Prescott, an expert on constitutional law and the monarchy at Royal Holloway, University of London. He noted that Charles voluntarily gave up his right to tax confidentiality "as the monarchy tries to put as much distance as possible" between itself and the controversy surrounding his brother.
The expanded public access at Buckingham Palace reflects arguments made by reformers who contend that taxpayers fund the monarchy's operations and deserve greater access to its properties. The palace currently receives approximately 700,000 visitors annually, a number that could increase under the new arrangement.
What the Numbers Show
The 10-year refurbishment program began in 2017 and is scheduled for completion next year. The £369 million ($487 million) project was designed to update obsolete plumbing, wiring and heating systems and extend the building's functional life by another 50 years.
Buckingham Palace contains 775 rooms and serves as both a royal residence and administrative headquarters for the monarchy. It hosts lavish state dinners for visiting presidents and potentates and provides the backdrop for major ceremonial events along The Mall.
King Charles paid £12.9 million ($16.1 million) in income and capital gains taxes in 2024-25, up from £11.7 million the previous year. Prince William paid £7.76 million in the same period, down from £8.34 million the prior year. These figures represent the first public disclosure of the royal family's personal tax payments since Charles ascended to the throne following Queen Elizabeth II's death in 2022.
The monarch's private estates—Balmoral in Scotland and Sandringham on England's east coast—are personally owned properties, distinct from the crown jewels, artwork and castles that belong to the institution rather than the individual.
The Bottom Line
The decision marks a significant break with tradition at a time when the royal family is navigating public scrutiny over its association with Jeffrey Epstein. By choosing Clarence House as his permanent residence while directing resources toward public access at Buckingham Palace, Charles is signaling that transparency and modernization remain priorities for his reign.
What remains unclear is how often the king will use the palace for ceremonial functions once he no longer lives there, and what programming will fill the building when royal events are not scheduled. The success of this approach will likely depend on whether increased public engagement offsets any perception that the monarchy has distanced itself from its historic home.