List of British royal residences
Last updated
Red: Used by the King 
Blue: Used by the Queen 
Green: Used by the Prince and Princess of Wales 
Red: Used by the King Blue: Used by the Queen Green: Used by the Prince and Princess of Wales British royal residences are palaces, castles and houses which are occupied by members of the British royal family in the United Kingdom. The current residences are owned by the Crown, the Duchy of Cornwall, and privately by members of the royal family; all the official residences are owned by the Crown. [1] [2] Some official residences, such as the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Hillsborough Castle, serve primarily ceremonial functions and are rarely used residentially.
Contents
- Official residences
- Private residences
- London
- Windsor and nearby
- Balmoral
- Elsewhere in the United Kingdom
- Former royal residences
- London 2
- England, excluding London
- Scotland
- Wales
- Outside the United Kingdom
- See also
- References
- External links
The occupied royal residences are cared for and maintained by the Property Section of the Royal Households of the United Kingdom. [1] The unoccupied royal palaces of England, along with Hillsborough Castle, are the responsibility of Historic Royal Palaces. [3]
Unlike the other nations of the United Kingdom, there is no official residence for a member of the royal family in Wales; [4] Llwynywermod is the private Welsh residence of the Prince of Wales.
Official residences
| Residence | Location | Ownership | Residents | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckingham Palace | London | The Crown | The King and Queen | Charles III uses Buckingham Palace for official business but does not reside there. [5] |
| Clarence House | London | The Crown | The King and Queen | Grace and favour |
| Kensington Palace | London | The Crown |
| Also in part an Historic Royal Palaces, otherwise, grace and favour |
| St James's Palace | London | The Crown | Grace and favour | |
| Windsor Castle | Windsor, Berkshire, England | The Crown | The King and Queen | Official country residence |
| Palace of Holyroodhouse | Edinburgh, Scotland | The Crown | The King and Queen | Used whenever the royal family undertake official duties in Scotland: primarily 'Holyrood week' in July |
| Hillsborough Castle | County Down, Northern Ireland | The Crown | The King and Queen | Used whenever the royal family undertake official duties in Northern Ireland. Also, an Historic Royal Palaces. [6] |
Buckingham Palace, the official residence of Charles III in London
The Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of Charles III in Scotland.
Private residences
London
| Residence | Location | Ownership | Residents | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ivy Cottage | Kensington Palace, London | The Crown | Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank | Current residence, leased from the Crown Estate |
| Wren House | Kensington Palace, London | The Crown | The Duke and Duchess of Kent | Official London residence, also a Historic Royal Palaces, grace and favour |
| Thatched House Lodge | Richmond, London | The Crown | Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy | Official country residence, leased from the Crown Estate |
Windsor and nearby
| Residence | Location | Type | Residents | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide Cottage | Windsor Estate, Berkshire | The Crown | The Prince and Princess of Wales | Located in Windsor Home Park, close to Windsor Castle |
| Frogmore Cottage | Windsor Estate, Berkshire | The Crown | The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Vacant as of June 2023) | Part of the Crown Estate |
| Royal Lodge | Windsor Estate, Berkshire | The Crown | The Duke of York | Leased from the Crown Estate |
| Bagshot Park | Bagshot, Surrey, England | The Crown | The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh | Leased from the Crown Estate |
Balmoral
| Residence | Location | Type | Residents | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balmoral Castle | Aberdeenshire, Scotland | Private | The King and Queen | August and September, inherited from Elizabeth II. |
| Birkhall | Balmoral Estate, Aberdeenshire, Scotland | Private | The King and Queen | Previously owned by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother; located on the estate of Balmoral Castle. Charles inherited the home when his grandmother died in 2002. |
| Craigowan Lodge | Balmoral, Aberdeenshire, Scotland | Private | The King and Queen | Inherited from Elizabeth II. |
Elsewhere in the United Kingdom
| Residence | Location | Type | Residents | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandringham House | Sandringham, Norfolk, England | Private | The King and Queen | Christmas until February, inherited from Elizabeth II |
| Anmer Hall | Sandringham Estate, Norfolk, England | Private | The Prince and Princess of Wales | Located on the grounds of Sandringham House. Wedding gift from Elizabeth II to Prince William and Catherine [7] |
| Highgrove House | Gloucestershire, England | Duchy of Cornwall |
| Control of the house was transferred to William, Prince of Wales, when he inherited the Duchy of Cornwall. [8] |
| Llwynywermod | Myddfai, Carmarthenshire, Wales | Duchy of Cornwall | The Prince and Princess of Wales | Usual country residence of the Prince of Wales |
| Tamarisk House | Isles of Scilly, England | Duchy of Cornwall | The Prince and Princess of Wales | |
| Gatcombe Park | Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, England | Private | The Princess Royal |
Balmoral Castle, the private residence of Charles III in Aberdeenshire
Sandringham House, the private residence of Charles III in Norfolk.
Former royal residences
London
| Residence | Location | Royals and Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 145 Piccadilly | Piccadilly | Prince Albert, Duke of York and Elizabeth, Duchess of York and Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret of York (1926–1936) |
| Albany House / The Albany | Piccadilly | Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (1791–1802) |
| Bentley Priory | Borough of Harrow | Queen Adelaide (leased 1846/8–1849) |
| Bridewell Palace | City of London | Henry VIII; Edward VI (1515–1523, owned until 1556) |
| Bushy House | Teddington | William IV; the FitzClarences, Dorothea Jordan, Adelaide of Saxe-Meinigen (1797–1849; still owned) |
| Cambridge House | Piccadilly | Official London residence of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge (1829–1850) |
| Cambridge Cottage | Kew | |
| Carlton House | Westminster | George IV (1783–1827; demolished and Carlton House Terrace constructed on the site, owned by the Crown Estate) |
| Castle Hill Lodge | Ealing | Used by Maria Anne Fitzherbert from October 1795 and George, Prince of Wales; then, bought by Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (father of Queen Victoria), who spent £100,000 enhancing the house (£8.1 million in 2021). [9] His aide-de-camp, General Sir Frederick Augustus Wetherall, bought the house to rescue the Duchess from creditors following the Duke of Kent's death. The house was demolished in 1845 by General Sir George Augustus Wetherall. |
| Chelsea Manor | Chelsea | Princess Elizabeth; Anne of Cleves (1536–1547, c. 1547–1557) |
| Chesterfield House | Westminster | London home of Princess Mary (1923–1937) – owned by Harewood Estates |
| Crosby Hall | Chelsea | Richard, Duke of Gloucester (mid-late 15th century) [10] |
| Cumberland House | Pall Mall | Prince Edward, Duke of York; Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland (c. 1760–1801; as York House until 1767) |
| Dolphin Square | Embankment | The Princess Royal, rented a flat here |
| Dover House | Whitehall | Prince Frederick, Duke of York (1788–1792) |
| East Sheen Lodge | Princess Louise, Princess Royal (1889–1931) | |
| Gloucester House, Mayfair | Piccadilly | Prince William, Duke of Gloucester died here in 1805, as did his daughter-in-law Princess Mary, the last surviving child of George III, on 30 April 1857 |
| Gunnersbury Park | Borough of Hounslow | Summer retreat of Princess Amelia (1760–1786) |
| Hampton Court Palace | Richmond-upon-Thames | The Crown, since Henry VIII (1525), now managed by Historic Royal Palace agency |
| Hanworth Manor | Borough of Hounslow | Henry VII; Henry VIII; Elizabeth I; also Anne Boleyn and Katherine Parr |
| Kennington Palace | Kennington | Built by Edward the Black Prince around 1350. Demolished c.1531 to provide materials for the Palace of Whitehall. |
| Kew Palace | Kew | Frederick, Prince of Wales; George III; The Crown since (mid-18th century –; managed by Historic Royal Palaces |
| Lancaster House | Westminster | |
| Leicester House | Westminster | Frederick, Prince of Wales (c. 1730–1751) |
| Tower of London | City of London | Now managed by Historic Royal Palaces |
| Marlborough House | Westminster | Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh; Queen Adelaide (1837–1849); Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and Alexandra, Princess of Wales (1863–1901); George, Prince of Wales and Mary, Princess of Wales (1901–1910). Occupied by Queen Mary 1945–1953. |
| Nonsuch Palace | Built by Henry VIII, later dismantled and sold-off by Barbara Palmer, 1st Duchess of Cleveland | |
| Norfolk House | Frederick, Prince of Wales | |
| Nottingham Cottage | grounds of Kensington Palace | |
| Palace of Placentia | The Palace at Greenwich, acquired by Margaret of Anjou (consort to Henry VI). Demolished and rebuilt for Charles II in 1664 (King Charles Wing).Given by Queen Mary to Trustees for the Royal Hospital for Seamen (now referred to as the Old Royal Naval College) who have leased it to Trinity Laban University. | |
| Queen's House | Greenwich | Built in the Gardens of the Palace of Greenwich for Anne of Denmark, consort to James I a small part of a proposed rebuilding of Greenwich (Placentia) Palace. Given by Queen Mary to Trustees for the Royal Hospital for Seamen (now referred to as the Old Royal Naval College). Part of the National Maritime Museum. |
| Richmond Palace | Also known as Palace of Sheen, Royal Residence 1327 to 1649. A few above ground remains survive in Palace Yard, Richmond | |
| Savile House | Leicester Square | |
| Savoy Palace | ||
| Schomberg House | Pall Mall | Princess Helena (until 1923) and daughters Princess Helena Victoria and Princess Marie Louise (1920–1939) [11] |
| Somerset House | Queen Elizabeth I; Queen Henrietta Maria | |
| Sussex House | Upper Mall, Hammersmith | Prince Augustus, Duke of Sussex |
| Palace of Westminster | Anglo-Saxon era – 1530 | |
| Palace of Whitehall | 1530–1698 | |
| White Lodge | Richmond | Princess Amelia of Great Britain; George III and Queen Charlotte; Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh; Albert Edward, Prince of Wales; Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge and family; Prince Albert, Duke of York and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (c. 1740–1923) |
| York House, St James's Palace | Various royal residents |
England, excluding London
Scotland
Wales
| Residence | Location | Royals and Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Bodorgan Hall | Bodorgan, Anglesey, Wales | Prince William and Catherine lived in a four-bedroom cottage on the Bodorgan Hall estate from 2010 to 2013. Their son, Prince George (b. July 2013), spent his first months on the estate. [13] [14] |
| Caernarfon Castle | Caernarfon, Wales | Edward I (until 1283; still owned) |
| Castell y Bere | Llanfihangel-y-Pennant, Wales | Llywelyn the Great, Prince of Wales (until 1284) then Edward I |
| Criccieth Castle | Criccieth, Wales | Llywelyn the Great, Prince of Wales (until 1284) then Edward I |
| Dolbadarn Castle | Llanberis, Wales | Llywelyn the Great, Prince of Wales (and Princes of Wales until 1284) then Edward I |
| Dolwyddelan Castle | Dolwyddelan, Wales | Llywelyn the Great, Prince of Wales (until 1284) then Edward I |
Outside the United Kingdom
| Residence | Location | Royals and Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 4 route du Champ d'Entraînement | Paris, France | The Duke and Duchess of Windsor (1937-1986) |
| Dublin Castle | Dublin, Republic of Ireland | Seat of Lords and Kings of Ireland (1171–1922) |
| Les Jolies Eaux | Mustique, St Vincent | Gift to Princess Margaret. Sold by her son Viscount Linley in 2000. |
| Les Bruyeres | Cap Ferrat, France | Owned by Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1921-1942) |
| Sagana Lodge | Kenya | |
| Verdala Palace | Siġġiewi, Malta | |
| San Anton Palace | Attard, Malta | |
| Grandmaster's Palace | Valletta, Malta | |
| Villa Guardamangia | Pietà, Malta |
See also
Related Research Articles
Buckingham Palace is a royal residence in London and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It has been a focal point for the British people at times of national rejoicing and mourning.
Balmoral Castle is a large estate house in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and a residence of the British royal family. It is near the village of Crathie, 9 miles (14 km) west of Ballater and 50 miles (80 km) west of Aberdeen.
The British royal family comprises King Charles III and his close relations. There is no strict legal or formal definition of who is or is not a member, although the Royal Household has issued different lists outlining who is a part of the royal family. Members often support the monarch in undertaking public engagements, and pursue charitable work and interests. The royal family are regarded as British and world cultural icons.
The Royal Standards of the United Kingdom presently refer to either of two similar flags used by King Charles III in his capacity as Sovereign of the United Kingdom, the Crown dependencies, and the British Overseas Territories. Two versions of the flag exist, one for use within Scotland and the other for use elsewhere.
St James's Palace is the most senior royal palace in London, the capital of the United Kingdom. The palace gives its name to the Court of St James's, which is the monarch's royal court, and is located in the City of Westminster in London. Although no longer the principal residence of the monarch, it is the ceremonial meeting place of the Accession Council, the office of the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, and the London residence of several members of the royal family.
Clarence House is a royal residence on The Mall in the City of Westminster, London. It was built in 1825–1827, adjacent to St James's Palace, for the royal duke of Clarence, the future king William IV.
Kensington Palace is a royal residence set in Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. It has been a residence of the British royal family since the 17th century, and is currently the official London residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank and their two sons.
Lady Sarah Frances Elizabeth Chatto is a member of the British royal family. She is the only daughter of Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, and Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon. She and her brother, David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon, are the only maternal first cousins of King Charles III. She is the youngest grandchild of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. At her birth, she was 7th in line to the British throne; as of May 2023, she is 28th. Though she does not undertake public duties, she frequently attends events and ceremonies with the wider royal family.
Historic Royal Palaces is an independent charity that manages six of the United Kingdom's royal palaces, five in London and one in Northern Ireland:
Hillsborough Castle is an official government residence in Northern Ireland. It is the official residence of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and the official residence in Northern Ireland of the British monarch and other members of the British royal family when they visit the region, as well as a guest house for prominent international visitors.
A grace-and-favour home is a residential property owned by a monarch by virtue of his or her position as head of state and leased, often rent-free, to persons as part of an employment package or in gratitude for past services rendered.
Birkhall is a 210 km2 estate on Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, owned by King Charles III. It is located alongside the River Muick to the south-west of Ballater.
The Royal Households of the United Kingdom are the collective departments that support members of the British royal family. Many members of the royal family who undertake public duties have separate households. They vary considerably in size, from the large household that supports the sovereign to the household of the Prince and Princess of Wales, with fewer members.
Llwynywermod, also known as Llwynywormwood, is an estate owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, just outside the Brecon Beacons National Park in Carmarthenshire, Wales. The 192-acre (0.78 km2) estate is near the village of Myddfai, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse, commonly referred to as Holyrood Palace or Holyroodhouse, is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. Located at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinburgh Castle, Holyroodhouse has served as the principal royal residence in Scotland since the 16th century, and is a setting for state occasions and official entertaining.
Prince George of Wales is a member of the British royal family. He is the eldest child of William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales. George is the eldest grandchild of King Charles III and is second in the line of succession to the British throne behind his father.
Princess Charlotte of Wales is a member of the British royal family. She is the second child and only daughter of William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales. A granddaughter of King Charles III, she is third in the line of succession to the British throne.
Adelaide Cottage is a house in Windsor Home Park just east of Windsor Castle, in Berkshire. Built in 1831 for Queen Adelaide, it is currently the principal residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The Queen's Green Canopy (QGC) was an initiative that began in May 2021 in the United Kingdom in honour of the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. To increase and protect the native tree cover, people were urged to create this 'special gift' for the Queen, to mark her 70 years on the throne.
Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, died on 8 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, at the age of 96. Elizabeth's reign was the longest of any British monarch. She was succeeded by her eldest son, Charles III.
References
- 1 2 "Maintaining the Occupied Royal Palaces". Parliamentary website. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ↑ "Royal Property". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . Vol. 252. United Kingdom: House of Commons. 16 January 1995. col. 301W.
- ↑ "Annual review 2014/15" (PDF). Historic Royal Palaces. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ↑ "Royal palace in Wales 'could bring £36m'". BBC News. 15 April 2018.
- ↑ "King Charles' grand rooms at Clarence House which remain out of bounds". HELLO!. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
- ↑ "Guide to Hillsborough Castle - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. 26 March 2015.
- ↑ Ward, Victoria (29 July 2013). "Duke and Duchess of Cambridge 'to move into country bolt-hole'". Archived from the original on 2 August 2013 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ↑ "Prince William's most surprising residences in new £1.2bn property portfolio". HELLO!. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
- ↑ UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ↑ Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea – Interesting Places – Crosby Hall Archived 13 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Princess Marie Louise (née Princess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenberg), My Memories of Six Reigns London: Evans Brothers, 1956
- ↑ Royal.gov.uk – 60 Facts, Fact 50 Archived 27 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "First look inside the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's Anglesey home". The Telegraph. 23 September 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
- ↑ "Prince William and Kate revisit former home of Anglesey". BBC. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
External links
- Art and residences at the royal family website
| Official |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Private | ||
| See also | ||
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