Members of the Royal Family may never again call Buckingham Palace home after it was announced this week that King Charles will not be relocating to the iconic London residence. The Palace, one of the capital’s most recognizable landmarks, has been undergoing a $487 million renovation over the past several years.
The refurbishment, due to be completed by next spring, was originally intended to pave the way for King Charles and Queen Camilla to take up residence in the 775-room Palace. However, even with the works nearing completion, the monarch has decided this will no longer be the plan.
Instead, the King and his wife will continue to reside at the nearby Clarence House, where they have lived for more than two decades. It comes as Prince Harry is thought to be planning to stay at a Royal residence during his UK visit in July.
While Buckingham Palace will remain the central hub of the monarchy, with official engagements expected to continue being held there, the revelation that it will no longer serve as a royal residence has ignited public debate.
It has also left many questioning why the Palace has never appeared to be a popular choice of home among the royals. Here at The Daily Express, we examine some of the key reasons why so few members of the Royal Family seem eager to call the Palace home.
The palace is not currently used as a home anymore (Image: Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Why did the Royals not like Buckingham Palace?
It is believed that some royals are reluctant to live at Buckingham Palace due to its lack of the intimate, homely atmosphere that smaller royal residences provide, which may be largely attributed to the thousands of tourists who gather outside its gates daily. It is widely believed that Queen Elizabeth moved into Buckingham Palace upon ascending to the throne out of a sense of duty, yet she always regarded the Palace more as a workplace than a residence, reports the Express.
Darren McGrady, who served the Royal Family for 15 years, once told Coffee Friend, “She’s never really liked the palace, it’s always been the office to the (late) Queen. “The Queen would always be whizzing off back to Windsor Castle; she can’t wait to get back there.”
Clarence House is where King Charles and Queen Camilla live when in London (Image: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Where does the Royal Family live instead?
Many members of the Royal Family, particularly in recent times, have chosen to reside not in Buckingham Palace, but in more modest properties where they can enjoy greater privacy and a chance to unwind.
When King Charles is not at Clarence House, situated just a short distance from Buckingham Palace, he is thought to spend considerable time at his private Highgrove House – a retreat where the monarch is said to feel most at ease.
Similarly, heir to the throne Prince William appears to have little desire to settle in London, having relocated his family from Kensington Palace to Windsor back in 2022.
It is understood this move was motivated by a desire for a more modest lifestyle in a smaller home, away from staff and grand royal residences.
In 2020, Queen Elizabeth herself ultimately chose to reside at Windsor Castle rather than Buckingham Palace.
Buckingham Palace has been undergoing a massive renovation (Image: Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Will anyone live at Buckingham Palace ever again?
Although it’s widely believed King Charles will never make Buckingham Palace his permanent residence following this recent announcement in the annual royal finance reports, the Palace’s long-term future remains uncertain.
Nevertheless, it’s anticipated that Prince William will mirror his father’s approach when he ascends to the throne and will similarly avoid making the Palace his home.
This expectation stems from reports last year when the couple relocated to Forest Lodge in Windsor, suggesting that William and his wife, Princess Catherine, view the Windsor mansion as their “forever home”, even after assuming their roles as King and Queen. Whether other members of the Royal Family might choose to reside there remains unclear, though overnight accommodations at the royal residence are expected to continue.
The Palace has emphasized that, regardless of permanent occupancy, it will remain the emblem of the Royal Family and continue hosting state banquets, dinners, Garden Parties, and investitures, while serving as the monarch’s central headquarters.
A Palace spokesperson said, “The Palace will continue in every traditional way to be the beating heart of the Monarchy, just not its resting head.”
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