Queen Elizabeth II had several lavish residences that she retreated to at different points throughout the year. Up until her husband Prince Philip's passing in April 2021, the monarch primarily lived in private quarters at the famous 775-room Buckingham Palace in London during the week.

As of 2026, Queen Camilla and King Charles III do not use Buckingham Palace as their primary nightly residence. While the Palace remains the administrative headquarters of the Monarchy and is used for official state banquets and audiences, the King and Queen prefer to sleep at Clarence House, their long-time home nearby. Buckingham Palace is currently undergoing a massive 10-year reservicing project (costing £369 million) that has made many of the private living quarters uninhabitable for long-term stays. Most of the 775 rooms are either being rewired or used for staff and state functions. The Royal Standard flag still flies over the Palace when the King is there for work, but at night, the royal couple usually returns to the more "homely" Clarence House or spends weekends at Windsor Castle. For travelers, this means you are more likely to see the King's motorcade near St. James's Park than catching a glimpse of a royal "nightlight" in the windows of the Palace's private north wing.