King Charles III has made a historic decision that reshapes royal tradition: even after Buckingham Palace’s decade‑long, £369 million refurbishment is completed, he will not move in. Instead, the monarch and Queen Camilla will continue living at Clarence House, signalling a shift toward greater public access to the palace that has served as the heart of royal life for nearly 200 years.
Royal officials emphasised that Buckingham Palace will remain the ceremonial and operational centre of the monarchy, with the king and queen continuing to work from its state rooms and offices. But Charles has chosen not to make it his residence for the remainder of his reign a move aligned with his broader effort to modernise the institution.
“It is and will remain Monarchy HQ, the crown jewel of our national buildings,” said James Chalmers, the senior royal official overseeing the king’s financial affairs.
The announcement came during a briefing on royal finances, where Charles became the first British monarch to publicly reveal his tax payments. He paid £12.9 million in income and capital gains taxes in the 2024-25 financial year, up from £11.7 million the year before.
The timing is notable. The royal family has been working to shift public attention after months of damaging headlines surrounding Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor and his past links to Jeffrey Epstein controversies that have overshadowed the king’s attempts to demonstrate that the monarchy can evolve.
Buckingham Palace, built in the 1820s and home to every monarch since Queen Victoria, has been undergoing a massive 10‑year overhaul to replace outdated plumbing, wiring and heating systems. The project, designed to preserve the palace for another 50 years, is expected to finish next year.
Yet despite the upgrades, Charles and Camilla will remain at Clarence House the residence the king has occupied since his days as Prince of Wales marking a symbolic break from tradition as the monarchy seeks to redefine its future.
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