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, by the Duchy of Cornwall, and privately by members of the royal family; all the official residences are owned by the Crown. Some official residences, such as the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Hillsborough Castle, serve primarily ceremonial functions and are used occasionally.
The occupied royal residences are cared for and maintained by the Property Section of the Royal Households of the United Kingdom. Public opening is overseen by the Royal Collection Trust. The unoccupied royal palaces of England, along with Hillsborough Castle, are the responsibility of Historic Royal Palaces.
Unlike the other nations of the United Kingdom, there is no official residence for a member of the royal family in Wales.
Map of select residences
Official residences Residence Location OwnershipResidentsNotes Buckingham Palace London, England The CrownKing Charles III and Queen Camilla use Buckingham Palace for official business; will not reside there post refurbishment. Clarence House Grace and favourThe current London residence for the King and Queen Kensington Palace The Prince and Princess of Wales Prince George Princess Charlotte Prince Louis The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester The Duke of Kent Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank Prince and Princess Michael of Kent Also in part a Historic Royal Palace, otherwise, grace and favour St James's Palace The Princess Royal The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi Grace and favourWindsor CastleWindsor, Berkshire, EnglandThe King and QueenOfficial country residenceHolyrood PalaceEdinburgh, ScotlandUsed whenever the royal family undertake official duties in Scotland: primarily 'Royal Week' in JulyHillsborough CastleCounty Down, Northern IrelandUsed whenever the royal family undertake official duties in Northern Ireland. Also, a Historic Royal Palace.
Private residences
London Residence Location OwnershipResidentsNotes Ivy Cottage Kensington Palace, London The Crown Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank Current residence, leased from the Crown Estate Wren House The Duke of Kent Official London residence, also a Historic Royal Palace, grace and favour Thatched House Lodge Richmond, London Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy Official country residence, leased from the Crown Estate in 1957
Windsor and nearby Residence Location TypeResidentsNotes Forest Lodge Windsor Estate, Berkshire, England The Crown The Prince and Princess of Wales Prince George Princess Charlotte Prince Louis Leased from the Crown Estate Bagshot Park Bagshot, England The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh
Balmoral Residence Location TypeResidentsNotes Balmoral Castle Aberdeenshire, Scotland Private The King and Queen August and September, inherited from Elizabeth II. Birkhall Balmoral Estate, Aberdeenshire, Scotland 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 Inherited from Elizabeth II. Tam-Na-Ghar The Prince and Princess of Wales Prince George Princess Charlotte Prince Louis Previously owned by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; located on the estate of Balmoral Castle. William inherited the home shortly before his great-grandmother's death.
Elsewhere in the United Kingdom +ResidenceLocationTypeResidentsNotesSandringham HouseSandringham, Norfolk, EnglandPrivateThe King and QueenChristmas until February, inherited from Elizabeth IIAnmer HallSandringham Estate, Norfolk, EnglandThe Prince and Princess of Wales Prince George Princess Charlotte Prince LouisLocated on the grounds of Sandringham House. Wedding gift from Elizabeth II to Prince William and CatherineMarsh FarmAndrew Mountbatten-WindsorMoved in April 2026Highgrove HouseGloucestershire, EnglandDuchy of Cornwall The King and QueenControl of the house was transferred to William, Prince of Wales, when he inherited the Duchy of Cornwall.Gatcombe ParkMinchinhampton, EnglandPrivateThe Princess RoyalRay Mill HouseWiltshire, EnglandThe QueenPurchased in 1996 before marrying into the royal family.Name UnknownCotswolds, EnglandPrincess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli MozziPurchased in 2021
Outside the United Kingdom ResidenceLocationTypeResidentsNotesName UnknownComporta, PortugalPrivatePrincess Eugenie and Jack BrooksbankPurchased in 2022Chateau of Riven RockMontecito, California, USAThe Duke and Duchess of Sussex Prince Archie Princess LilibetPurchased in 2020
Former royal residences
London ResidenceLocationRoyals and Dates145 PiccadillyPiccadillyPrince Albert, Duke of York and Elizabeth, Duchess of York and Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret of York (1926–1936)Albany House / The AlbanyPrince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (1791–1802) 15 Portman SquareMaryleboneLeased by Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife in the weeks prior to his marriage to Princess Louise of Wales. London residence of Princess Louise from 1889 until her death in 1931.3 Belgrave SquareBelgravia, LondonLondon home of Prince George, Duke of Kent and his wife Princess Marina following their marriage in 1934 until the outbreak of World War II. Birthplace of their son Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and daughter Princess Alexandra of Kent.32 Green StreetMayfair, LondonOwned by Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster, in 1931 Queen Mary (consort of George V) suggested the house should be available as a royal residence for her daughter Mary, Princess Royal and son-in-law Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood. The Princess and Earl lived at the house until the outbreak of World War II, and the house was sold back to the Grosvenor Estate in 1946.36 Belgrave Square ("Ingestre House")Belgravia, LondonRented by Queen Victoria as a London residence for her mother Victoria, Duchess of Kent for £2,000 a year. The Duchess moved into Ingestre House after vacating her quarters at Buckingham Palace following the Queen's marriage to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in February 1840. In September of the same year the Queen's aunt Princess Augusta Sophia died, and the Duchess of Kent was given use of Clarence House, which had been the late Princess's London residence.41 Belgrave SquareBelgravia, London41 Belgrave Square was the London residence of Prince Arthur of Connaught and his wife Princess Alexandra, 2nd Duchess of Fife from c. 1920 until Prince Arthur's death in 1938. The house was sold in 1939.54 Mount StreetMayfair, LondonLondon residence of Prince Arthur of Connaught and Princess Alexandra, 2nd Duchess of Fife following their marriage in 1913 until September 1916.64 Avenue RoadSt John's Wood, LondonPurchased by Princess Alexandra, 2nd Duchess of Fife, in November 1938, following the death of her husband Prince Arthur of Connaught in September of that year. The house served as the Duchess of Fife's London home until her death in 1959.77 & 78 Pall Mall (previously known as "Schomberg House")Pall Mall, LondonGranted to the Crown Estate by the Office of Works in exchange for Bushy House, Middlesex in 1900. Converted into a single residence in 1901, it was given to Princess Helena as a grace-and-favour residence from August 1902 until her death in 1923, after which her daughters Princess Helena Victoria and Princess Marie Louise continued to live at the house until 1947. Known during the early 20th century as Schomberg House, causing some confusion with a nearby property which also bears this name at 80 - 82 Pall Mall.8 South Audley Street ("Cambridge House" until 1830)South Audley Street, Mayfair, LondonCaroline of Brunswick (c. 1820 – 1821), Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge (c. 1819 – 1830), Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (1826) Bentley PrioryBorough of HarrowQueen Adelaide (leased 1846/8–1849)Bridewell PalaceCity of LondonHenry VIII; Edward VI (1515–1523, owned until 1556)Bushy HouseTeddingtonWilliam IV; the FitzClarences, Dorothea Jordan, Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen (1797–1849; still owned)Cambridge HousePiccadillyOfficial London residence of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge (1829–1850)Cambridge CottageKewCarlton HouseWestminsterGeorge IV (1783–1827; demolished and Carlton House Terrace constructed on the site, owned by the Crown Estate)Castle Hill LodgeEalingUsed 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 (£ in ). 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 ManorChelseaPrincess Elizabeth; Anne of Cleves (1536–1547, c. 1547–1557)Chesterfield HouseWestminsterLondon home of Princess Mary (1923–1932) – purchased by Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood in 1919, vacated by the couple in late 1931 and sold in 1934.Crosby HallChelseaRichard, Duke of Gloucester (mid–late 15th century)Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea – Interesting Places – Crosby Hall Cumberland HousePall MallPrince Edward, Duke of York and Albany (c. 1761 – 1767, during which time the building was known as "York House"), and Prince Henry, Duke of CumberlandDolphin SquareEmbankmentAnne, Princess Royal rented a flat hereDover HouseWhitehallPrince Frederick, Duke of York (1788–1792)East Sheen LodgeRichmond upon-ThamesPrincess Louise, Princess Royal (1889–1908)Gloucester House, MayfairPiccadillyPrince 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 1857Gunnersbury ParkBorough of HounslowSummer retreat of Princess Amelia (1760–1786)Hampton Court PalaceRichmond-upon-ThamesThe Crown, since Henry VIII (1525), now managed by Historic Royal Palace agencyHanworth ManorBorough of HounslowHenry VII; Henry VIII; Elizabeth I; also Anne Boleyn and Katherine ParrKensington PalaceRoyal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, LondonBuilt for William III and Mary II during the late 17th century. Occupied by subsequent monarchs Anne, George I, and George II. Divided into various residences and apartments from the reign of George III.
Apartment 1: Encompasses parts of the Palace currently known as Apartment 1 and Apartment 1A. Occupants include Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex from 1805 to 1843, and then by his morganatic widow Cecilia Underwood, Duchess of Inverness until 1873. Occupied by Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll from c. 1874 to 1939. Separated from Apartment 1A in the mid-1950s, occupants of the reduced Apartment 1 have included Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent from c. 1955 until her death in 1968. Home of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester from 1969 until his death in 1974, and then by his widow Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester until her death in 2004. Subsequently used by their son Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester and his family until 2019.
Apartment 1A: Divided from Apartment 1 during the mid-1950s. Occupants include Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon from 1963 until her death in 2002. Used as the official London residence of William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales and their children since 2012.