List of British royal residences
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| This article may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may interest only a particular audience. (July 2023) |
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.
The occupied royal residences are cared for and maintained by the Property Section of the Royal Households of the United Kingdom.[1] Public opening is overseen by the Royal Collection Trust.[3] 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;[4] Llwynywermod is the private Welsh residence of the Prince of Wales.
Map of select residences
[edit]
Red: Used by the King and Queen
Blue: Used by the Prince and Princess of Wales
Green: Used by other members of the royal family
Red: Used by the King and Queen Blue: Used by the Prince and Princess of Wales Green: Used by other members of the royal familyOfficial residences
[edit]| Residence | Location | Ownership | Residents | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckingham Palace | London | The Crown | The King and Queen | The King and Queen use Buckingham Palace for official business but do not reside there.[5] |
| Clarence House | London | The Crown | The King and Queen | Grace and favour Clarence House is the current London Residence for the King and Queen |
| Kensington Palace | London | The Crown |
|
Also in part a Historic Royal Palace, 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, a Historic Royal Palace.[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
[edit]London
[edit]| 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
[edit]| 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
[edit]| 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
[edit]| 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.
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Former royal residences
[edit]London
[edit]| 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 (£9.62 million in 2023).[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
[edit]Scotland
[edit]Wales
[edit]| 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
[edit]| 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
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "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.
- ^ "Royal Collection Trust". www.rct.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "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 7 May 2024.
- ^ 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
[edit]- Art and residences at the royal family website