Who lives at Windsor Castle?

Those who live and work within the Castle include the titular head of the Castle community, the Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle; the Dean of Windsor, Canons and other staff who run the College of St George; the Military Knights of Windsor; the Superintendent of Windsor Castle and his staff, who are responsible ...



As of February 2026, King Charles III and Queen Camilla are the primary residents of Windsor Castle, using it as their preferred weekend retreat and a secondary official residence to Buckingham Palace. While the King is the most prominent inhabitant, the castle is actually a bustling community. It houses approximately 150 people, including the Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle, the Military Knights of Windsor, and various staff members who maintain the state apartments and grounds. Notably, in early 2026, following the high-profile departure of Prince Andrew from the nearby Royal Lodge, there has been ongoing speculation about the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward and Sophie, taking up a more permanent residency within the castle's private apartments. Despite its status as a tourist landmark, the "Upper Ward" remains a private, highly secure living space for the reigning monarch and his inner circle.

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To answer the question of which palace is bigger, Buckingham Palace has a total of 775 rooms, while Windsor Castle has a total of 1,000 rooms. Thus, Windsor Castle is bigger than Buckingham Palace. The castle at Windsor Castle is Europe's largest and longest-occupied castle.

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Ahead of his coronation on May 6, the new British monarch lords over seven palaces, 10 castles, 12 homes, 56 cottages, and 14 ancient ruins where he can hang up his crown.

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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.

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Windsor Castle was home to the late Queen Elizabeth II when the blaze broke out in 1992, a time she described as an annus horribilis, or horrible year. Before the fire, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne all announced the ends of their respective marriages that year.

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Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh lived in the private apartments on the north side of the Palace, while rooms on the upper floors of the north and east sides have been occupied by other members of the Royal Family.

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Elizabeth II inherited the Balmoral estate from her father, and then after her death, ownership passed to her eldest son King Charles III, but the estate is managed by trustees under Deeds of Nomination and Appointment.

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King Charles III oversees $9.5 billion in royal real estate, according to Forbes. He inherited Balmoral Castle and Sandringham Estate from Queen Elizabeth II. The Crown owns properties such as Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and Kensington Palace.

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Inside Clarence House: King Charles and Camilla's official London residence. Clarence House has been home to King Charles III and Queen Camilla for almost 20 years. The pair moved in during 2003 and will continue to call it home until renovation works at Buckingham Palace are completed.

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The Castle of Mey was the property of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother from 1952 until 1996, when Her Majesty generously gifted it with an endowment to the Trust. The castle is situated on the north coast of Caithness, in the parish of Canisbay, about 15 miles east of Thurso and six miles west of John O'Groats.

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