List of British royal residences
Updated: 5/20/2026, 8:15:32 PM Wikipedia source
British royal residences are palaces, castles and houses which are occupied by members of the British royal family in the United Kingdom. The current residences are owned by the Crown, by the Duchy of Cornwall, and privately by members of the royal family; all the official residences are owned by the Crown. Some official residences, such as the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Hillsborough Castle, serve primarily ceremonial functions and are rarely used residentially. The occupied royal residences are cared for and maintained by the Property Section of the Royal Households of the United Kingdom. Public opening is overseen by the Royal Collection Trust. The unoccupied royal palaces of England, along with Hillsborough Castle, are the responsibility of Historic Royal Palaces. Unlike the other nations of the United Kingdom, there is no official residence for a member of the royal family in Wales.
Tables
· Official residences
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Residence
Buckingham Palace
Location
London, England
Ownership
The Crown
Residents
The King and Queen
Notes
Charles III and Queen Camilla use Buckingham Palace for official business but do not reside there.
Clarence House
Clarence House
Residence
Clarence House
Location
Grace and favour
Clarence House is the current London residence for the King and Queen
Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace
Residence
Kensington Palace
Location
The Prince and Princess of Wales
Prince George
Princess Charlotte
Prince Louis
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester
The Duke of Kent
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank
Prince and Princess Michael of Kent
Ownership
Also in part a Historic Royal Palace, otherwise, grace and favour
St James's Palace
St James's Palace
Residence
St James's Palace
Location
The Princess Royal
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy
Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
Ownership
Grace and favour
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Residence
Windsor Castle
Location
Windsor, Berkshire, England
Ownership
The King and Queen
Residents
Official country residence
Holyrood Palace
Holyrood Palace
Residence
Holyrood Palace
Location
Edinburgh, Scotland
Ownership
Used whenever the royal family undertake official duties in Scotland: primarily 'Royal Week' in July
Hillsborough Castle
Hillsborough Castle
Residence
Hillsborough Castle
Location
County Down, Northern Ireland
Ownership
Used whenever the royal family undertake official duties in Northern Ireland. Also, a Historic Royal Palace.
| Residence | Location | Ownership | Residents | Notes |
| Buckingham Palace | London, England | The Crown | The King and Queen | Charles III and Queen Camilla use Buckingham Palace for official business but do not reside there. |
| Clarence House | Grace and favour Clarence House is the current London residence for the King and Queen | |||
| Kensington Palace | The Prince and Princess of Wales Prince George Princess Charlotte Prince Louis The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester The Duke of Kent Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank Prince and Princess Michael of Kent | Also in part a Historic Royal Palace, otherwise, grace and favour | ||
| St James's Palace | The Princess Royal The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi | Grace and favour | ||
| Windsor Castle | Windsor, Berkshire, England | The King and Queen | Official country residence | |
| Holyrood Palace | Edinburgh, Scotland | Used whenever the royal family undertake official duties in Scotland: primarily 'Royal Week' in July | ||
| Hillsborough Castle | County Down, Northern Ireland | Used whenever the royal family undertake official duties in Northern Ireland. Also, a Historic Royal Palace. |
· Private residences › London
Ivy Cottage
Ivy Cottage
Residence
Ivy Cottage
Location
Kensington Palace, London
Ownership
The Crown
Residents
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank
Notes
Current residence, leased from the Crown Estate
Wren House
Wren House
Residence
Wren House
Location
The Duke of Kent
Ownership
Official London residence, also a Historic Royal Palace, grace and favour
Thatched House Lodge
Thatched House Lodge
Residence
Thatched House Lodge
Location
Richmond, London
Ownership
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy
Residents
Official country residence, leased from the Crown Estate
| Residence | Location | Ownership | Residents | Notes |
| Ivy Cottage | Kensington Palace, London | The Crown | Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank | Current residence, leased from the Crown Estate |
| Wren House | The Duke of Kent | Official London residence, also a Historic Royal Palace, grace and favour | ||
| Thatched House Lodge | Richmond, London | Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy | Official country residence, leased from the Crown Estate |
· Private residences › Windsor and nearby
Forest Lodge
Forest Lodge
Residence
Forest Lodge
Location
Windsor Estate, Berkshire, England
Type
The Crown
Residents
The Prince and Princess of Wales
Prince George
Princess Charlotte
Prince Louis
Notes
Leased from the Crown Estate
Bagshot Park
Bagshot Park
Residence
Bagshot Park
Location
Bagshot, England
Type
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh
| Residence | Location | Type | Residents | Notes |
| Forest Lodge | Windsor Estate, Berkshire, England | The Crown | The Prince and Princess of Wales Prince George Princess Charlotte Prince Louis | Leased from the Crown Estate |
| Bagshot Park | Bagshot, England | The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh |
· Private residences › Balmoral
Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle
Residence
Balmoral Castle
Location
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Type
Private
Residents
The King and Queen
Notes
August and September, inherited from Elizabeth II.
Birkhall
Birkhall
Residence
Birkhall
Location
Balmoral Estate, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Type
Previously owned by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; located on the estate of Balmoral Castle. Charles inherited the home when his grandmother died in 2002.
Craigowan Lodge
Craigowan Lodge
Residence
Craigowan Lodge
Location
Inherited from Elizabeth II.
Tam-Na-Ghar
Tam-Na-Ghar
Residence
Tam-Na-Ghar
Location
The Prince and Princess of Wales
Prince George
Princess Charlotte
Prince Louis
Type
Previously owned by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; located on the estate of Balmoral Castle. William inherited the home shortly before his great-grandmother's death.
| Residence | Location | Type | Residents | Notes |
| Balmoral Castle | Aberdeenshire, Scotland | Private | The King and Queen | August and September, inherited from Elizabeth II. |
| Birkhall | Balmoral Estate, Aberdeenshire, Scotland | Previously owned by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; located on the estate of Balmoral Castle. Charles inherited the home when his grandmother died in 2002. | ||
| Craigowan Lodge | Inherited from Elizabeth II. | |||
| Tam-Na-Ghar | The Prince and Princess of Wales Prince George Princess Charlotte Prince Louis | Previously owned by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; located on the estate of Balmoral Castle. William inherited the home shortly before his great-grandmother's death. |
· Private residences › Elsewhere in the United Kingdom
Sandringham House
Sandringham House
Residence
Sandringham House
Location
Sandringham, Norfolk, England
Type
Private
Residents
The King and Queen
Notes
Christmas until February, inherited from Elizabeth II
Anmer Hall
Anmer Hall
Residence
Anmer Hall
Location
Sandringham Estate, Norfolk, England
Type
The Prince and Princess of Wales
Prince George
Princess Charlotte
Prince Louis
Residents
Located on the grounds of Sandringham House. Wedding gift from Elizabeth II to Prince William and Catherine
Marsh Farm
Marsh Farm
Residence
Marsh Farm
Location
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
Type
Moved in April 2026
Highgrove House
Highgrove House
Residence
Highgrove House
Location
Gloucestershire, England
Type
Duchy of Cornwall
Residents
The King and Queen
Notes
Control of the house was transferred to William, Prince of Wales, when he inherited the Duchy of Cornwall.
Gatcombe Park
Gatcombe Park
Residence
Gatcombe Park
Location
Minchinhampton, England
Type
Private
Residents
The Princess Royal
Ray Mill House
Ray Mill House
Residence
Ray Mill House
Location
Wiltshire, England
Type
The Queen
Residents
Purchased in 1996 before marrying into the royal family.
Name Unknown
Name Unknown
Residence
Name Unknown
Location
Cotswolds, England
Type
Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
Residents
Purchased in 2021
| Residence | Location | Type | Residents | Notes |
| Sandringham House | Sandringham, Norfolk, England | Private | The King and Queen | Christmas until February, inherited from Elizabeth II |
| Anmer Hall | Sandringham Estate, Norfolk, England | The Prince and Princess of Wales Prince George Princess Charlotte Prince Louis | Located on the grounds of Sandringham House. Wedding gift from Elizabeth II to Prince William and Catherine | |
| Marsh Farm | Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor | Moved in April 2026 | ||
| Highgrove House | Gloucestershire, England | Duchy of Cornwall | The King and Queen | Control of the house was transferred to William, Prince of Wales, when he inherited the Duchy of Cornwall. |
| Gatcombe Park | Minchinhampton, England | Private | The Princess Royal | |
| Ray Mill House | Wiltshire, England | The Queen | Purchased in 1996 before marrying into the royal family. | |
| Name Unknown | Cotswolds, England | Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi | Purchased in 2021 |
References
- Parliamentary websitehttps://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmpubacc/201/20103.htm
- Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1995/jan/16/royal-property#S6CV0252P0_19950116_CWA_187
- wwwhttps://www.rct.uk/
- BBC Newshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-43752296
- HELLO!https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/20221019154576/king-charles-clarence-house-rooms-closed/
- wwwhttps://www.gov.uk/hillsborough-castle
- "Duke and Duchess of Cambridge 'to move into country bolt-hole'"https://web.archive.org/web/20130802051003/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/prince-George/10209880/Duke-and-Duchess-of-Cambridge-to-move-into-country-bolt-hole.html
- Peoplehttps://people.com/ex-prince-andrew-moves-marsh-farm-home-report-11945304
- HELLO!https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/20220921151842/prince-william-duchy-of-cornwall-most-surprising-properties/
- The Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/09/21/queen-consort-keep-wiltshire-bolthole-escape-royal-life/
- wwwhttps://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1277857-princess-beatrice-edoardo-mapelli-welcome-second-daughter-athena-in-tranquil-cotswolds-home
- The Standardhttps://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/princess-eugenie-jack-brooksbank-comporta-portugal-b1008039.html
- HELLO!https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/829656/prince-harry-meghan-markle-montecito-mansion-photos/
- The London Gazettehttps://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34354/page/8413
- "The Duke of Kent"http://www.royal.gov.uk/ThecurrentRoyalFamily/TheDukeofKent/Background.aspx
- Daily Mirrorhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror-their-royal-highnesses-prin/174752045/
- Leicester Mercuryhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-mercury-obituary-for-prince-ar/174752084/
- The Daily Telegraphhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph-41-belgrave-square/174752081/
- Evening Standardhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-standard-social-and-personal-pr/181734558/
- Bank of Englandhttps://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/inflation/inflation-calculator