The palace is held in trust for the reigning monarch by the Crown Estate, which means that it will pass from Queen Elizabeth to Prince Charles upon her death.
Prince Charles is said to be “firmly of the view” that Buckingham Palace is the “visible symbol of the monarchy” in the UK’s capital. A royal source was quoted as saying that the Prince would make Buckingham Palace his home as King as it is “monarchy HQ”.
However, this has not so far been confirmed by either Buckingham Palace or Clarence House. Buckingham Palace is the official London residence for British monarchs, first used by Queen Victoria in 1837.
READ MORE: Queen Elizabeth II dies aged 96
It is also the administrative headquarters of the royal family, with official events such as State banquets, lunches, dinners, receptions and garden parties hosted there, drawing more than 50,000 people in pre-pandemic times. The 775-room palace includes 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms.
The royal family own a complicated portfolio of properties, and no detailed plans have been revealed publicly on how they will be allocated upon the death of the reigning monarch.
However, the Queen largely resided in Windsor Castle in her later years, while Charles and Camilla live in Clarence House. Buckingham Palace is currently undergoing a huge refurbishment project to update 1950s-era electrical cabling, plumbing and heating, as well as make repairs.
The £369 million taxpayer-funded refurbishment is due to be completed in 2027. Aside from Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Clarence House, the Queen and Charles both have residences elsewhere in England, Scotland and Wales.
In Scotland, the Queen’s official residence is Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh. She stayed there whenever she travelled north, and did so during the first week of summer, known as “Holyrood Week”.
She also owned Balmoral Castle, the Scottish holiday home to the royal family located on the Balmoral Estates in Aberdeenshire. Additionally, Queen Elizabeth II owned the Sandringham Estate, where she typically goes during the Christmas holidays and Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland.
Charles’ residences include his and Camilla’s family home, Highgrove House near Tetbury, Gloucestershire, and Birkhall, the couple’s private residence in Scotland and the former home of the Queen Mother.
He also owns a home in Wales, Llwynywermod, near Llandovery in Carmarthenshire. The farmhouse was bought in 2007 by the Duchy of Cornwall and Charles and Camilla stay there during their annual tour of Wales.
READ NEXT:
Updates as The Queen placed under medical supervision after doctors' concerns
What happens when the Queen dies, and what is Operation London Bridge
How news of Queen's declining health spread suddenly around Parliament
Queen Elizabeth placed under medical supervision after doctors' concerns
Loose Women fans appalled over show's 'silence' on Queen's health
