No, King Charles III does not currently live in Buckingham Palace. While it remains the official monarch headquarters, renovations mean the King and Queen Camilla have continued to reside at their nearby home, Clarence House, since his accession in 2022. He uses Buckingham Palace primarily for official engagements, audiences, and state functions.
No, the British Royal Family does not permanently live in Buckingham Palace; it serves as the monarch's official London residence and administrative headquarters, but King Charles III and Queen Camilla primarily reside at Clarence House while the palace undergoes major renovations, with other royals living in various homes like Windsor Castle or Highgrove,.
Currently, Clarence House is the London residence of King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla. They intend to continue to use Clarence House as their London home until at least 2027 during renovations to Buckingham Palace.
Since Queen Elizabeth's death, King Charles inherited Buckingham Palace, but he's chosen to stay at Clarence House rather than move into the palace as renovations continue.
How much of Buckingham Palace is actually lived in?
There are 775 rooms, including 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, 78 bathrooms, 52 principal bedrooms and 19 state rooms. The royal family occupy a small suite of private rooms in the north wing.
Inside Queen Elizabeth $5 Billion Buckingham Palace
How much do Buckingham Palace staff get paid?
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.
Operation London Bridge is the code name for the plan for what happens when Queen Elizabeth dies. The plan has never been formally released but elements of it have been leaked over the years.
So, Highgrove is technically King Charles's country home, but it's owned by the Duchy of Cornwall and Prince William has officially inherited the Duke of Cornwall title from his father. Which means Highgrove is William's, and Charles has to pay him £700,000 a year in rent.
“They are putting on a united front in public,” the insider said. “But behind the scenes it's a very different picture.” They further explained, “Camilla lives at Ray Mill most of the time, while Charles retreats to Highgrove or Clarence House.
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.
As announced in January 2020, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have stepped back as working members of The Royal Family. The couple married in St George's Chapel, Windsor on 19 May 2018 and have two children: Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
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.
Yes, Buckingham Palace has a private indoor swimming pool, built in 1938 by King George VI for his daughters, Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and Princess Margaret, where many royals, including current members, learned to swim. It's a private facility used by the Royal Family and senior household staff, with strict rules about staff access when royals are present.
Since then though he has only paid a “peppercorn” in rent (“peppercorn” being a technical term, meaning essentially that it is free). But if he was paying rent, it wouldn't be directly to the Treasury, or to the government, which does not own Royal Lodge. Instead it goes to the Crown Estate.
Members of the British royal family don't receive a traditional salary. They do receive funding from taxpayers and private estates to cover their expenses as working royals. They are otherwise supported by inherited wealth, private portfolios, and personal business ventures.
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.
Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, announced in March 2024 that she was diagnosed with cancer after undergoing abdominal surgery in January of that year; tests revealed the presence of cancer, leading her to begin preventative chemotherapy, which she completed in the summer of 2024, and she has since been focusing on recovery and gradually returning to public duties, though the specific type and stage of cancer remain private.
Privacy and Personal Space: Even royalty need some time to themselves! Separate sleeping arrangements allowed each individual to have their own space and get a better night's rest without being disturbed. Snoring, restlessness, or differing sleep schedules could be factors.
Kate and Prince William eat breakfast separately on Christmas Day due to a long-standing royal tradition where the men have a hearty breakfast downstairs while the women eat lighter meals in their rooms to allow more time for hair and makeup before the heavily photographed church service, a custom revealed by former royal chef Darren McGrady, though they dine together for other meals.
To protect Princess Diana's wedding dress design, the creators used a secret code name, “Deborah Cornwall,” during the process. Diana's title as Duchess of Cornwall inspired the code name, though she chose to go by Princess of Wales instead.
Queen Elizabeth's Final Wish Was to Be Buried Beside Her Parents: 'She Wanted to Make Her Father Proud' Simon Perry is a writer and correspondent at PEOPLE.
