The homes of the British Royal Family are more than just impressive buildings – they’re important parts of the country’s history and the Royal Family’s everyday life.
From Buckingham Palace in busy central London to quieter estates like Balmoral and Sandringham, each residence has its own story and purpose.
Some are used for work and official events, while others are private places for the family to relax.
Here’s everything you need to know about where the Royal Family lives.
KING CHARLES AND QUEEN CAMILLA
King Charles and Queen Camilla spend the majority of their time at Clarence House in London, rather than Buckingham Palace itself.
The house belonged to the Queen Mother before her death and it was originally built in 1825.
Charles completed some renovations before he and Camilla moved in shortly after their wedding in 2005, and the royal couple also spends a lot of time at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, which King Charles bought in 1980.
They also traditionally spend their summers at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, and the Christmas period at the Sandringham Estate.
PRINCE WILLIAM AND PRINCESS CATHERINE
The Prince and Princess of Wales recently moved into Forest Lodge with their three children George, Charlotte, and Louis. The property is located within Windsor Great Park.
The couple plan for the house to be their “forever home”, just as Clarence House is for King Charles and Queen Camilla.
“William was never going to move into Buckingham Palace,” Ingrid Seward, royal biographer and Editor-in-Chief of Majesty Magazine, told HELLO!.
“He has never had any fondness for it, and he probably hasn’t spent much time there. The Queen and Prince Philip were devastated when they had to move out of Clarence House; Winston Churchill told them that the Queen had to live in a palace.
“But that was then, and this is now. Maybe Buckingham Palace will open to the public all year round, rather than only in the summer, and they will use Windsor Castle for banquets.”
Prince William, Princess Catherine and their three children previously resided at Adelaide Cottage, a four-bedroom home on the grounds of Windsor that was built in 1831 for Queen Adelaide.
They also have a 20-room, four-story apartment in Kensington Palace for official entertaining purposes and a 10-bedroom home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk called Anmer Hall.
PRINCESS ANNE AND TIMOTHY LAURENCE
Princess Anne and her husband Timothy Laurence live at Gatcombe Park, a country estate between the villages of Minchinhampton and Avening in Gloucestershire, England.
Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall, her husband Mike Tindall, and their three children Mia, Lena, and Lucas also reside on the estate.
The home was originally built in the 1770s and was rebuilt in 1820. In 1976, Queen Elizabeth bought the 700-acre property for her daughter and Anne’s then-husband Captain Mark Phillips.
When she moved in, Princess Anne took over the running of the farm on the property.
“It’s really nice to come back and just be yourself in an area like this,” she told BBC‘s Countryfile show in 2014. “Being able to take on a place like this – for me, I’ve got to make it work. This is not something that comes free, this has got to pay its way, otherwise I can’t stay here.”
When the pair divorced in 1992, Mark moved into Aston Farm on the estate, where the Tindalls live now.
PRINCE EDWARD AND DUCHESS SOPHIE
Prince Edward, the youngest of late Queen Elizabeth II’s sons, and Duchess Sophie live at Bagshot Park in Surrey, alongside their son James, Earl of Wessex and their daughter Lady Louise Windsor.
Set within 51 acres of land, the mansion is rumoured to boast 120 rooms ever since it was rebuilt in 1879.
They have resided there since 1999, and in 2023 the family extended their lease on the property for another 150 years.
ANDREW MOUNTBATTEN-WINDSOR AND SARAH FERGUSON
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor currently lives at Royal Lodge, a AU$57 million mansion on the grounds of Windsor, with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
King Charles’ brother and his wife continued to live in the Georgian mansion after they divorced in 1992, so that could raise their two daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, there.
The Queen Mother lived in the residence until her death in 2002 and before that it was used as a hunting lodge and a retreat for the family. After the Queen Mother died, the residence was renovated and Andrew took out a long lease on the property.
However, following the removal of his royal titles and honours, Andrew has been evicted from Royal Lodge and is set to relocate to a property on the Sandringham Estate next year.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
