9 royal residences in the UK where the British monarchs live

Contrary to popular belief, viewers of The Crown and Downtown Abbey are probably aware that British royalty never lived in the same palace each family had its own magnificent abode. There are multiple castles across England, such as Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Kensington Palace which often play host to dignitaries. But where does each member of the British royal family actually reside, and who owns their palacial residence? The latter question has a simple answer: most property where the British royals reside is owned by the monarchy. But where each of them lives is more complex. The King owns multiple properties across England, and as do the Princes and the Princesses. Many of them stay empty through the year as many are used only during special occasions, like Sandringham House for Christmas and Frogmore House for picnics. Most of these extravagant complexes were built during the Tudor dynasty, serving as a treat for history aficionados.

Scroll below to learn all about the British family residencies across the UK which will have you wishing you were blue-blooded.

1. Buckingham Palace 

The most famous of the royal palaces, Buckingham Palace, is situated in the heart of London. It is the royal jewel of the palaces. The grand palace served as the primary residence for the late Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, King Philip, ever since she took the throne in 1936. This neoclassical-style structure has been known as the official London residence of United Kingdom’s monarchs since 1837, and Queen Victoria was the first monarch to settle in. The grand palace has  775 rooms, including 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, 78 bathrooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, and 19 state rooms. The late Queen Elizabeth had undertaken a project to refurbish the grand palace that would take 10 years to complete. Ever since King Charles ascended the throne, he has allowed the renovations to continue and stays at Clarence House instead, leaving Buckingham currently empty of royalty.  

2. Clarence House 

The current residence of the King and Queen Consort of England, Clarence House, is within walking distance of Buckingham Palace and is also next to St. James Palace. The house has been the home to the pair for almost 20 years as they moved into Clarence house in 2003 and will continue to live there until renovations at Buckingham Palace are completed. Built in 1825 - 27, the townhouse was the home of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip after their marriage in 1947. It was also the London home of the Queen Mother from 1953 to 2002. Prince William and Prince Harry also lived here until moving into their own private residences at Kensington Palace in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

3. Balmoral Castle 

The Balmoral Castle was considered a second home to Queen Elizabeth II due to the amount of time she spent there. The opulent residence was built in 1715 and was occupied by the British empire in 1857 as Prince Albert wanted to gift it to his son, King Edward VII. The palace was passed down to Queen Elizabeth by her father, George V. The palace now belongs to the new king of England, who uses it as a summer retreat and resided there during the COVID pandemic.   

4. St. James Palace 

St James Palace is used by Princess Anne; daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Alexandra; cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, as their London base. Built by Henry VIII between 1531 and 1536, St James Palace has been a residence of kings and queens for over 300 years—until the reign of Queen Victoria. The palace has hosted many important events; the latest being King Charles' coronation in 2022 and Prince George's christening in 2013. 

5. Windsor Castle 

One of the oldest royal properties, Windsor Castle is one of the oldest inhabited homes. It is often referred to as 'The Big House' by British media. The castle was commissioned by William the Conqueror around 1070 and took 16 years to complete. Queen Elizabeth II utilised the castle for ceremonies, such as The Order of The Garter and Royal Ascot. Since her death, the castle remains largely uninhabited but King Charles; its owner, uses it to hold official ceremonies and state functions, the latest one being the host residence for French President, Emmanuel Macron. 

6. Kensington Palace 

Prince William and Princess Kate, along with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, the Prince and Princess of Kent, and Princess Eugenie partially live in London's Kensington Palace; estimated to be worth  $740 million. This is the primary residence for the Prince and the Princess of Wales and their three children and is known as apartment A1 within the palace. Their family apartment includes five reception rooms, three main bedrooms, a night and day nursery, and staff quarters. The late Princess Diana and young princes, William and Harry, also resided here in the past. 

Also read: Princess Diana's chef reveals what she ate in a day

7. Adelaide Cottage

Adelaide Cottage in Berkshire is owned by the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate. Located on the east side of Windsor Castle grounds, Adelaide Cottage is a 10-minute walk away from Windsor Castle. This cottage was built in 1831 on the command of King William IV for his wife, Queen Adelaide. With a modest setting of four bedrooms, Adelaide Cottage is opulent in its own right. The cottage is said to feature decor of crystal dolphins recycled from a 17th-century yacht boat. 

8. Sandringham House

A Georgian mansion constructed in 1771, Sandringham House is another property passed down to King Charles by his royal ancestors. King Edward VII bought it for his future wife, Princess Alexandra of Denmark, and built the majestic estate. He eventually died at the house in 1936, passing it on to Edward VIII, who also died there in 1952. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, the castle was best known to host Christmas celebrations. Now the same tradition is carried on by her son, current head of the British monarchy, King Charles. 

9. Anmer Hall 

Anmer Hall is a 10-bedroom Georgian house that was built in 1802 as part of Sandringham Estate, just a five-minute drive from Sandringham House. The historic structure has been William and Kate’s home in Norfolk for over a decade. They moved here in 2015 when Kate was expecting their second child, Princess Charlotte. Today, the Prince and Princess of Wales use Anmer as a country escape when they aren’t inhabiting their two primary royal residences—Kensington Palace and Adelaide Cottage. 

Edited by Dayle Pereira-Alemao

(Also read: Inside the Pataudi Palace and its royal Indian relevance)