King Charles III will not live in Buckingham Palace after its $487 million refurbishment, breaking a tradition of almost 200 years. Royal officials confirmed that the king and Queen Camilla will still work from the palace, which will remain the main site for royal events and operations. However, they will continue to live at nearby Clarence House during Charles’s reign.
James Chalmers, a senior royal official, stated, “It is and will remain Monarchy HQ, the crown jewel of our national buildings.” This announcement came during a briefing about royal finances, where King Charles became the first British monarch to disclose the taxes he paid. For the 2024-25 financial year, he paid $16.1 million in income and capital gains taxes, an increase from $15.4 million the previous year.
Built in the 1820s, Buckingham Palace has served as the home for every British monarch since Queen Victoria. It has 775 rooms and is used for official meetings and royal dinners. By choosing to live at Clarence House, the king and queen will allow for increased public access to the palace. This decision may lead to more events and tours, with the palace currently welcoming about 700,000 visitors each year.
The palace is also an iconic symbol for the public, where crowds gather for significant royal events and announcements. In 2017, a 10-year program began to update the palace’s facilities, with the aim of preserving its use for the monarchy for another 50 years. This project is set to finish next year.
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