As the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom, King Charles III is the owner of many opulent royal residences across Britain. After Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022, Charles officially became the King in a lavish 2023 coronation and thus took over duties and properties previously owned by his mother.
According to a deep dive into the properties from Forbes, Charles now owns seven palaces, 10 castles, 12 homes, 56 holiday cottages and 14 ancient ruins. The elaborate real estate portfolio is known as the Duchy of Lancaster estate, a private and ancient estate owned by the reigning sovereign. The estate has been passed down to the next King or Queen for over 750 years.
As if that deal wasn’t already sweet enough, Charles wasn’t required to pay inheritance tax on the luxurious real estate due to a rule introduced by the UK government in 1993. Per Business Insider, the rule doesn’t require the Royal Family to pay the same tax as other UK citizens to prevent the royal family’s assets being wiped out if two monarchs were to die in a short period of time.
Properties include massive estates that are known across the globe, such as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, but there are also some lesser known properties that have been in the family for generations.
Though one might think that larger and more expensive is better, Charles disagrees. A source recently told the Daily Mail that the royal might be thinking of breaking royal protocol by not moving to Buckingham Palace at the end of its renovation in 2027 (the Palace is worth an estimated $4.9 billion, per Forbes). “I know he is no fan of ‘the big house,’ as he calls the palace,” the source said. “He doesn’t see it as a viable future home or a house that’s fit for purpose in the modern world.” The source continued, “He feels that its upkeep, both from a cost and environmental perspective, is not sustainable.”
Thus, the King seemingly spends most of his time in other properties and we have all the details about where they are. Below you’ll see some of Charles’ most extravagant and opulent estates, palaces and cottages!
Buckingham Palace
The crown jewel and probably the best known of Charles’ many properties is Buckingham Palace. Estimated at $4.9 billion, the palace has been the official residence of the royal family since 1837. However, because of extensive renovations, Charles didn’t actually move into the property after taking the throne. He does, however, still use the Palace as his “operational headquarters.”
Part of the palace are open to the public for tours, even during the ongoing renovations. Perhaps the most famous feature of the property is the front-facing balcony on which the family stand and wave to crowds during major events like royal weddings or Trooping the Color.
Windsor Castle
Founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. The estimated value of the massive estate is $743 million. Despite its old age, the castle is very much a working palace and was even where Charles would have spent his weekends as a child.
In 2022, Prince William and Kate Middleton moved their family into Adelaide Cottage on the castle grounds. In 2023, an open air concert featuring performances from Lionel Richie and Katy Perry was held on the ground to celebrate Charles’ coronation.
Kensington Palace
Known as the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria, Kensington Palace is now the official London residence of Prince William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales. Their home has an estimated value of $630 million.
Princess Eugenie and Prince Harry have also occupied apartments on the property over the years.
The palace houses fifty total residents. Aside from royals, it also hosts military personnel, courtiers, staff, and citizens who pay market rent.
Clarence House
Estimated by Forbes to value at $72 million, Clarence House has been Charles and Queen Consort Camilla‘s official London residence since 2003. They also shared the four-floor home with Prince Harry and William until 2011. Prior to that, Clarence House was the home to Queen Mother, who lived there since 1953.
Balmoral Castle
Located in Ballater, Scotland, Balmoral Castle, estimated at $118 million, is the official Scottish home of the royal family since 1852. It was well-known to be Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite estate thanks to its sprawling grounds, horse stables and space for hunting. It was where Charles’ late father proposed to the Queen and where she died peacefully on Sept 8.
Caernarfon Castle
Estimated at a whopping $289 million, the Caernarfon Castle, located in Caernarfon, Wales, is one of the greatest buildings of the Middle Ages. The monumental castle was built by King Edward I and his architect Master James of St George. The project took 47 years to complete and cost £25,000, a staggering amount at the time. Due to its dilapidated condition, the castle has not been inhabitated for hundreds of years.
Eltham Palace
Eltham Palace is described as a “quirky mix of medieval and modern.” Located in Greenwich, London, the southeastern part of the city, this 19-acre, $211 million home has been a royal residence since 1305, though no present royals live there.
The site was even used to film scenes from Netflix’s The Crown, including the Queen’s quarters of the Royal Yacht Britannia.
Hampton Court Palace
Notably the favorite place of Henry VIII, who brought all his six wives here, Hampton Court Palace is estimated to be worth $1.2 billion. No royals live there now but the building is a popular tourist destinations. The palace is surrounded by gorgeous gardens and includes notable features such as the Maze and the Great Vine, the world’s largest grape vine as of 2005.
Bridgerton and spin-off series Queen Charlotte have filmed some scenes at the palace.
Highgrove House
If you’re at all interested in the scandalous history of Charles and Princess Diana’s divorce, you know how important Highgrove House is. The home, bought by Charles in 1980, was a short drive away from Ray Mill House, Camilla’s home since 1996, Forbes reported. As the two became closer, both their marriages led to divorce.
Fun fact: since Prince William was named the new Duke of Cornwall, he now has ownership of King Charles’ beloved home. Therefore, the monarch will need to pay his son an estimated “£700,000 a year” in rent, per the Daily Mail. The home is estimated to be valued at around $39 million.
Banqueting House
Once a part of the Palace of Whitehall, Banqueting House is estimated to value $296 million. The house’s most standout royal fact is that it’s where King Charles I was executed in 1649. No royal lives in the property and it has been undergoing renovations for several years.
Dumfries House
Located in Ayrshire, Scotland, Dumfries House is something of a passion project for the King who, under his trust, purchased the property in 2007 to prevent its contents and the house itself from being sold at auction.
Under the trust, improvements have been made to grounds to use it for gardening and hospitality.
Charles was in residence at the property in 2022 when his mother died and was briskly transported to Balmoral via helicopter.
Llwynywermod
Perhaps the most quaint of his homes was Llwynywermod, a three-bedroom farmhouse located just outside the Brecon Beacons National Park in Carmarthenshire, Wales. The Duchy of Cornwall estate purchased the $1.5 million home for Charles and Camilla in 2006 and it became their summer residence.
However, in 2023, Charles announced plans to give up the lease on the property.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Palace of Holyroodhouse, also known as Holyrood Palace or Holyroodhouse, is the King’s official Scottish residence and is valued at just under $70 million. In 2023, the Royal Collection Trust posted an Instagram photo showing the King’s ornate bedroom at the palace, featuring a stunning red four-poster bed!
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