King Charles and Queen Camilla will not move into Buckingham Palace when the £369m refurbishment finishes next year, opting instead to remain at Clarence House, their London home. The decision aims to increase public access to the palace, according to the king's accountant and keeper of the privy purse, James Chalmers.
Palace Remains 'Monarchy HQ'
Chalmers stated that after "careful consideration and to greatly increase opportunities for public access," the couple will stay at Clarence House for the duration of the reign. They will have access to private rooms at Buckingham Palace for daytime retreats and occasional overnight stays. The palace will continue as the ceremonial and operational centre of royal life.
"[Buckingham Palace] is and will remain monarchy HQ, the crown jewel of our national buildings, with the sovereign's standard flying proudly from the roof whenever his majesty is in London," said Chalmers. A royal spokesperson added it would be a "buzzing hive of royal activity in every other way," describing the palace as "the beating heart of the monarchy, just not its resting head."
Tax Bill Revealed
The announcement coincided with the release of palace finances showing Charles paid £12.9m in income and capital gains tax in 2024-25 on his personal income, known as the privy purse. Prince William paid £7.76m for the same period. Charles has paid over £30m since his accession, becoming the first monarch to publish his tax bill. There is no legal obligation for the king or Prince of Wales to pay tax, but since 1993, after public outcry over the Windsor Castle fire restoration costs, the late Queen Elizabeth II and Charles volunteered to pay.
Tax campaigner Dan Neidle criticized the limited disclosure as a "sideshow," stating there is no transparency because nothing is verifiable. He argued that proper disclosure would involve detailed accounts similar to those of large private companies. "The reality is that the king is completely unlike any other taxpayer, and the boundary between personal assets and crown assets is very wobbly. So it's far from clear he should receive the same privacy," he said.
Sovereign Grant Nearly Doubles
Palace finances also revealed that the core sovereign grant – public money for official duties – will nearly double from £51.8m in 2024-25 to £99.9m by 2027-28, after a review by the royal trustees: Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and Chalmers. Graham Smith, CEO of Republic, said the grant remains "hugely inflated" compared to its £31m level in 2012, which would be £45m if adjusted for inflation. He criticized the £369m palace refurbishment that Charles now won't use, calling for the palace to be "fully open to the public all year round."
Currently, public access includes seasonal tours of state rooms, guided East Wing access, and visits to the King's Gallery and Royal Mews.
Criticism and Calls for Oversight
Labour peer George Foulkes expressed being "deeply worried about the amount of money being spent and the lack of transparency," suggesting the tax disclosure was a "diversionary tactic to get away from the whole question of the sovereign grant." He called for a committee of both Houses of Parliament to supervise expenditure.
Charles received £25.2m from the 2025-26 profits of the Duchy of Lancaster, a historical portfolio providing private income. No breakdown of his tax bill was given; tax is payable only on the duchy surplus after official expenses. He also pays tax on private capital gains from Balmoral, Sandringham, investments, and savings.
Dartmoor Prison Rent
Separately, Prince William will no longer personally benefit from the £1.5m annual rent from the abandoned Dartmoor prison. From 2026-27, the sum will be removed from the Duchy of Cornwall and used to regenerate Princetown, the nearby community.
