Royals generally do not pay market-rate rent to live in Kensington Palace, as it is considered an official "grace and favour" residence tied to their public duties. While some, such as Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, previously lived there rent-free before being required to pay commercial rent in 2010, others live there as part of their working role for the Crown.
While some royals live at Kensington Palace for free in exchange for public royal duties, there are a few family members who are expected to pay rent on their super-exclusive properties.
The Occupied Royal Palaces are held in trust for the nation by The King as Sovereign. Their maintenance and upkeep is one of the expenses met by the government in return for the surrender by the Sovereign of the hereditary revenues of the Crown (mainly the profit from The Crown Estate).
As well as being a popular visitor destination, Kensington Palace is the official London residence of TRH The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, The Duke and Duchess of Kent and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent are also based in the palace's royal apartments.
Do William and Kate actually live at Kensington Palace?
As the house is owned by the Crown Estate, the family will pay a monthly rent. At the same time, they still have at their disposal London apartment 1A at Kensington Palace, as well as Amner Hall, given to them by Queen Elizabeth II as a wedding present.
Windsor Castle is legally owned by the British Crown, held by the reigning monarch, currently King Charles III, "in right of the Crown," meaning it's a state asset, not personal property, with its profits going to the Treasury for national benefit, though the King lives there and uses it as a royal residence, much like Buckingham Palace. While the monarch holds it for the nation, properties like Windsor Castle are part of the "Occupied Royal Palaces" managed for the country, with the Crown Estate handling other vast properties like Windsor Great Park.
Salaries for jobs at Buckingham Palace and the wider Royal Household vary significantly by role, from around £19,000 for entry-level positions like Summer Wardens or £20k for a Groom (with accommodation) to £40,000+ for coordination roles, and even £55,000-£60,000 for senior project managers, with lower-paid roles often including housing/meals in exchange for salary adjustments. Salaries aim for the London Living Wage, but some roles have faced criticism for being low relative to UK median earnings, although perks like accommodation or meals can offset costs.
Kensington later became home for minor royals, including her daughter, the talented sculptor Princess Louise. More recently, the palace has been home to Diana, Princess of Wales, and Princess Margaret.
Nearby Apartments 8 and 9 were also home to the late Princess Diana. After her marriage to King Charles III, Diana moved into Apartment 9 where they raised their sons, William and Harry. William and Kate now use the residences for office space and entertaining professionally for their various charities.
Does Prince Harry receive any money from the royal family?
How do Meghan and Harry earn their money? As working royals, they received 95% of their annual income from Harry's father, then Prince of Wales. The taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant made up the other 5%. When they stepped down as senior royals, King Charles gave them "a substantial sum" to help establish their new life.
However, the money received in the form of a Sovereign Grant is not taxed. The personal income of the Queen and other family members is taxed and too under high tax rates. Council tax, VAT, and road tax are a few common examples of the taxes that the royal family members will have to pay.
Occupied Royal Palaces, such as Buckingham Palace, are not the private property of The Queen. They are occupied by the Sovereign and held in trust by Crown Estates for future generations. The Queen privately owns two properties, Balmoral Castle and Sandringham House, which are not publicly funded.
Prince William and Kate Middleton's salary from the Duchy of Cornwall estate was revealed for the 2024-2025 financial year. bit.ly/4jn6ypV. Kate Middleton doesn't earn a salary. HRH The Princess of Wales does.
Over 800 people work for the Royal Household, and a lucky few do live in suitably posh apartments (which are said to be lovely, but obviously not as grand as their royal bosses'). There are also staff quarters for a range of household workers, some of whom might live there too.
Yes, Johnny Depp is a distant relative of Queen Elizabeth II, specifically her 20th cousin, 20 times removed, through King Edward III, making them distant relatives with a shared ancestor over 500 years ago, according to research for the show Who Do You Think You Are?.
The House of Windsor came into being in 1917, when the name was adopted as the British Royal Family's official name by a proclamation of King George V, replacing the historic name of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.
