Beyond Buckingham: Inside the Modern Royal Real Estate Shuffle
Buckingham Palace has long been recognized as the principal dwelling of the British monarchy, though contemporary royals frequently choose to live in other significant historical estates.
Upon his accession to the throne in September 2022, after the passing of his beloved mother, Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III inherited an extensive collection of properties. He diverged from customary royal practice by selecting Clarence House as his main dwelling with his wife, Queen Camilla, opting not to take up full-time residency at Buckingham Palace.
In recent years, the monarch's two sons — Prince William and Prince Harry — also made noteworthy choices regarding their family's official abodes. In 2020, Harry and his spouse, Meghan Markle, relocated their family completely out of the United Kingdom, stemming from his decision to relinquish his senior royal responsibilities.
Similarly, William and his wife, Princess Kate Middleton, shared in August 2025 their intentions to depart from their Adelaide Cottage home later that year.
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Continue reading for a comprehensive look at the homes of various members of the royal family:
King Charles III and Queen Camilla
The reigning monarchs possess a property collection comprising numerous heritage estates, among them Buckingham Palace. Intriguingly, King Charles's birth took place within the palace walls in November 1948, following the transformation of a guest chamber into a temporary surgical suite by the royal household.
Erected in 1703, Buckingham Palace serves as the administrative hub for the entirety of the royal family. This expansive property sits on an 830,000-square-foot parcel of land and contains 775 rooms, featuring 52 chambers for royal guests and 19 state reception rooms.
Presently, Charles and Camilla reside at Clarence House, positioned next to St. James Palace along The Mall, a ceremonial avenue in London. Built in the 1820s, Clarence House has been Charles's home since 2003, following the passing of his grandmother, The Queen Mother. As reported by Hello Magazine, the palace’s yearly Sovereign Grant document indicated that Charles and Camilla intend to remain at Clarence House until at least 2027.
Among the monarch's other significant holdings is Windsor Castle, which faced a near-catastrophic fire in November 1992. The blaze consumed 115 rooms, including Queen Victoria‘s Private Chapel, before firefighters managed to extinguish it after 15 hours.
The royal couple possesses several holiday retreats, such as Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland, Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. King Charles's property assets expanded in May 2025 with the acquisition of The Old Mill in Wiltshire, a property bordering Camilla’s ancestral residence, Ray Mill House.
Prince William and Kate Middleton
The Prince and Princess of Wales transitioned their living arrangements from Kensington Palace and Adelaide Cottage to the Forest Lodge estate within Windsor Great Park in November 2025. A royal representative verified to Us Weekly before the relocation that “The Wales family will move house later this year.”
Royal commentator Rebecca English suggests that William intends to retain Forest Lodge as his home when he eventually ascends to the throne. Furthermore, reports indicate the couple holds a 20-year lease on the estate, secured at market value rent.
An insider disclosed to Us Weekly that “a new house signifies a new chapter for the family,” coming after Kate's announcement in January 2025 that she was in remission from cancer.
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“This move to a new home represents an important step towards independence, though it wasn't wholly unexpected,” the source shared with Us in August 2025.
Additional properties owned by William and Kate consist of Anmer Hall in Norfolk and the Tam-Na-Ghar estate located within Balmoral Castle grounds.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
For a short time, while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex resided in the U.K., they called Frogmore Cottage home. Interestingly, Frogmore is situated within Windsor Great Park, the very region where William and Kate intend to relocate in 2025.
In 2020, Harry and Meghan departed the U.K. with their offspring, initially establishing themselves in Canada at Mille Fleurs, a grand residence nestled within the affluent North Saanich community on Vancouver Island. The Sussexes, however, never owned the 10,000-square-foot property, reportedly leasing it from a Russian magnate instead.
Their Canadian sojourn proved temporary, prompted by security considerations. Tyler Perry, a friend of Harry and Meghan, extended an invitation for them to reside at his Beverly Hills residence until they secured their own property.
By July 2020, the Sussexes finally purchased a $14.65 million, Mediterranean-inspired estate in Montecito, California. This 18,671-square-foot manor boasts nine bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, a teahouse, and a swimming pool.
Following their relocation to California, the couple acquired an $8.4 million holiday residence on Portugal's Iberian coast in 2024, as reported by The Mirror. Their vacation property is situated near Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie’s estate within the prestigious CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club.
Princess Anne
Princess Anne, the younger sibling of King Charles, resides at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire, England, nestled between the picturesque villages of Minchinhampton and Avening. Gatcombe Park was originally built in the 1770s, though it saw significant alterations during its ownership by economist David Ricardo in the 1820s.
Queen Elizabeth II acquired the estate for Princess Anne and her then-husband, Mark Phillips, in 1976. (Anne and Mark's marriage ended in 1992.) Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall, along with her spouse, Mike Tindall, and their three children, live on the Gatcombe Park grounds at Aston Farm.
In a 2014 segment on the BBC’s Countryfile, Anne discussed the satisfaction derived from operating a working farm on the estate.
“It's truly pleasant to return and simply be oneself in such an environment,” she remarked then. “Having the opportunity to manage a property like this — for me, it must be viable. This isn't a complimentary gift; it has to generate its own income, or I wouldn't be able to remain.”
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
The Duke of York and his household relocated to Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire, in 2004, after the demise of the previous resident, Andrew’s grandmother, The Queen Mother. Reportedly, Andrew received a 75-year lease on the estate upon moving in and did not incur rental costs.
Andrew and his former spouse, Sarah Ferguson, were removed from Royal Lodge in October 2025 subsequent to the ex-duke losing his royal honors, as his association with the deceased billionaire sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein remained a prominent news topic.
The grounds of Royal Lodge have housed multiple dwellings since the 17th century, undergoing substantial enlargement for the future King George VI during the 1930s.
Prince Edward
Bagshot Park, situated immediately south of Windsor, was leased to the Duke of Edinburgh for a half-century term starting in 1998. This historic dwelling is renowned for its distinctive red brick and stone exteriors, along with its immaculately designed gardens.
In 2007, Edward and his spouse, Duchess Sophie, executed a lease renewal, obligating them to pay £5 million ($6.6 million) for a 150-year tenure on the property.
This Tudor-esque mansion was erected in 1879 for Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, son of Queen Victoria. A significant enlargement project commenced in the late 19th century, incorporating additions to the side and back of the estate.
Princess Eugenie
Eugenie and her household reside at Ivy Cottage, situated within the Kensington Palace estate. While initially constructed for royal staff, the dwelling received a comprehensive renovation long before Eugenie took up residence in 2018.
The royal pair inhabited Ivy Cottage from 2018 to 2020, returning in 2022 after a short period at Frogmore Cottage. Currently, they divide their time between the Cottage and their property at Portugal’s CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club.
Princess Beatrice
In 2021, Beatrice and her spouse, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, acquired a $4.71 million farmhouse in England’s pastoral Cotswolds area, according to The Sun. The residence features six bedrooms and several stately reception halls suitable for royal gatherings.
Prior to this, the couple had lived in a four-bedroom apartment within St. James’ Palace in London.
