Who lives at Buckingham Palace full time?

Buckingham Palace Hundreds of visitors flock daily to be in the same vicinity where royalty resides. The palace's private quarters have been Queen Elizabeth II's formal residence since 1936 when her father took the throne and is speculated to be the new home of King Charles III and his Queen Consort.



As of 2026, King Charles III and Queen Camilla do not live at Buckingham Palace full-time. While it remains the official administrative headquarters of the Monarchy, the King and Queen primarily reside at Clarence House in London and spend many weekends at Windsor Castle or Highgrove House. Buckingham Palace is currently undergoing a massive, multi-year £369 million reservicing project to update its ancient electrical, heating, and plumbing systems, which has made large sections of the private apartments uninhabitable for extended stays. The "full-time" residents of the palace are actually a dedicated cohort of Royal Household staff, including chefs, footmen, and security detail who live in the upper-floor quarters to maintain the 775-room estate. While the King holds weekly audiences and official State Banquets there, it functions more as a "working office" and national monument than a traditional family home in 2026.

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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.

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Windsor Castle is the largest occupied castle in the world and home to hundreds of members of staff and some members of the Royal Family. Today the castle is still used as a residence for the royal family, and it will be the future home of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

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Although in use for the many official events and receptions held by The King, the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace are open to visitors every summer. Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms. These include 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.

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How much money does the King's Guard earn at Buckingham Palace? The starting salary for Household Cavalry soldiers is around $23,291 (£18,687) during basic training which will rise to $29,285 (£23,496) after completing 26 weeks of service. These are both minimums so could increase independently of training.

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The elegant palace has been a royal residence in Britain since 1761- longer than America has been around! The temperature of any building that old and that large is very difficult to manage. It might be shocking for you to hear that Buckingham Palace doesn't have an air conditioning system like the one in your home.

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