King Charles III announces that he will not return to live at Buckingham Palace even after renovation

King Charles III and Queen Camilla during a speech to the United Kingdom Parliament, in London, on May 13, 2026.
Arthur Edwards/Pool via REUTERS
King Charles III will not reside at Buckingham Palace after the completion of a 10-year renovation program, budgeted at 369 million pounds (R$2.53 billion). The monarchy seeks to expand public access to the historic building that has been the center of royal life for almost 200 years.
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Royal authorities reinforce that the king and Queen Camilla will continue to work from the palace, which will remain as the "ceremonial and operational center" of the monarchy. However, for the remainder of Charles' reign, the royal couple will remain at Clarence House, located nearby.
"[Buckingham] It is and will remain the seat of the monarchy, the jewel in the crown of our national buildings," said James Chalmers, the senior royal official responsible for managing the king's finances.
The decision was announced this Thursday (25), during a presentation on royal finances, in which Charles became the first British monarch to reveal the taxes paid to the government. The king paid £12.9 million ($16.1 million) in income and capital gains taxes in the 2024-2025 tax year, an increase on the £11.7 million paid the previous year.
Royals try to respond to criticism
The announcements come as the royal family tries to change the narrative after months of embarrassing headlines about links between convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and former Prince Andrew - now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Public attention focused on Mountbatten-Windsor has overshadowed the king's efforts to modernize the monarchy and demonstrate that this ancient institution is capable of evolution.
Built in the 1820s, Buckingham Palace has been the London residence of every British monarch since Queen Victoria. With 775 rooms, the palace also houses offices of the royal bureaucracy and hosts sumptuous state dinners for visiting presidents and heads of state.
The palace is also a point of reference for the public; Crowds gather under its famous balcony to celebrate when kings and queens announce the end of wars, celebrate weddings and mark historic events such as the 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
It also serves as the setting for parades along the wide ceremonial avenue known as The Mall.
Palace needed care
But, after so much wear and tear, the palace was beginning to show its age. In 2017, the Royal Household began a 10-year program to modernize outdated plumbing, wiring and heating systems, as well as renovating the building so it could continue to house the monarchy for another 50 years. The project is expected to be completed next year.
Buckingham Palace facade
REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo
However, the king and queen decided to live at Clarence House, an imposing residence close to the palace, where Charles has lived since he was Prince of Wales.
This decision will allow for expanded public access to the palace, enabling more events to be held and the number of visitors and guided tours to the building to be increased, said Chalmers. The palace already receives around 700,000 visitors a year.
Royal family watchers await more details about plans for the palace. Ed Owens, author of the book "After Elizabeth: Can the Monarchy Save Itself," said it would be a shame if, for example, the building sat empty for much of the year.
"I hope there is a 'second act' to this decision," he told the Associated Press. "I'm waiting to see if there will be a more radical proposal for what Buckingham Palace could be in the future."
Palace recognizes need for transparency
The other big news of the day was the announcement about the royal family's taxes.
Although Charles has released details of his personal taxes when he was Prince of Wales, this is the first time he has done so since ascending to the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2022.
Although the monarchy welcomes resources from diverse sources, the king pays taxes only on his personal income - much of it coming from his private estates, Balmoral, in Scotland, and Sandringham, on the east coast of England. Charles also paid taxes on capital gains related to asset sales.
Interior of Buckingham Palace
Reuters
Prince William, now the Prince of Wales, also released details of his taxes on Thursday. William paid £7.76 million in income and capital gains taxes in the 2024-2025 tax year, down from the £8.34 million paid the previous year, his office said.
For the first time, the figures give the public a concrete idea of the King's personal wealth, as opposed to the castles, jewels and works of art that come with the role but are not the monarch's personal property.
Charles was not required to do this. The king's tax affairs, like those of any citizen, are strictly confidential. However, he decided to give up this right to privacy at a time when the monarchy is trying to distance itself as much as possible from Mountbatten-Windsor.
This also reinforces the idea that the monarchy is a public institution and that its functioning must be transparent, said Craig Prescott, an expert in constitutional law and the monarchy at Royal Holloway, University of London.
"If they are open and as transparent as possible, the contrast with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor becomes even greater. bigger," he said.

Source: G1