King and Queen to remain at Clarence House after £369m Buckingham Palace renovation
King Charles and Queen Camilla will not move into Buckingham Palace after its £369m refurbishment is completed next year, according to the latest royal accounts.
Instead, the King has decided that Clarence House will remain their primary residence, while Buckingham Palace continues to function as the administrative and ceremonial centre of the monarchy.
The 10-year renovation programme, due to finish in March, has focused on replacing ageing infrastructure including wiring, pipes and boilers, some of which have not been updated in over 60 years.
Officials say the decision to remain at Clarence House is partly to allow greater public access to Buckingham Palace and avoid disruption linked to relocating royal staff and operations.
Security considerations were also cited, with concerns that full-time royal residence could limit visitor access to key areas of the historic building.
The palace will continue to host state banquets, receptions and official events, while summer and seasonal public tours are expected to expand, potentially increasing revenue for the Royal Collection Trust.
Critics have questioned whether the building should be fully opened to the public year-round, given the scale of public funding involved in its refurbishment. However, royal officials maintain that Buckingham Palace will remain the operational heart of the monarchy.
The announcement comes alongside new financial disclosures showing King Charles has become the first British monarch to publicly reveal his tax payments, contributing £12.9m in 2024–25.
The Sovereign Grant, which funds official royal duties, is also set to rise temporarily before falling after the refurbishment programme end.
