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Since ascending to the throne following Queen Elizabeth II’s death, King Charles III has inherited several remarkable royal residences and palaces.
The newly-crowned monarch now counts at least seven palaces, 10 castles, 12 homes, 56 cottages, and 14 ancient ruins in his property portfolio, according to Forbes. Not only did Charles inherit The Crown Estate – a vast portfolio of public land and property – he also inherited the Queen’s private estates—her much-loved Scottish castle in Balmoral, where she died, as well as Sandringham in Norfolk, home to the thoroughbred horse farm known as the Royal Stud.
King Charles III may now have the grandeur of Buckingham Palace to call home, but his heart has always seemed to be in the countryside, where he has a Scottish estate, Birkhall, a Welsh farmhouse, Llwynywermod, and of course, his main family home, Highgrove House in Gloucestershire.
Below, we highlight eleven of the monarch’s most remarkable dwellings.
Highgrove House, Gloucestershire
King Charles has owned Highgrove house since 1980, and he previously spent weekends there with his first wife, the late Princess Diana, and their children, Princes William and Harry. Today, Charles enjoys tending to the gardens at the home, and ensures his concern for the environment is apparent in the management of the property by using energy-saving lightbulbs and solar lights, and instructing the staff to compost kitchen waste.
Clarence House, London
King Charles and Camilla have mainly resided at Clarence House in London since their wedding in 2005. The property, built between 1825 and 1827, was once home to Charles's grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (affectionately known as the Queen Mum). Prior to the couple moving in, the home underwent extensive renovations and was refurbished with new artwork, textiles, and a new colour scheme.
Llwynywermod, Wales
King Charles's first Welsh home, adapted from a former model farm in Carmarthenshire, bears witness to his philosophy of sustainable building, with a structure traditionally made from existing and locally sourced materials, an ecologically sound heating system, and elegant interiors that harmonise perfectly with the architecture. Architect Craig Hamilton transformed the property into what now comprises three cottages and a grade II-listed threshing barn as well as the main house for the use of the newly proclaimed King Charles III and the Queen Consort. The property has an air of retired quietude; a mansion that used to occupy the property is now a picturesque ruin, the lake has long since silted up, a small river runs through the valley around which sheep graze amongst ancient trees.
Restormel Manor, Cornwall
With inviting interiors by Annabel Elliot, King Charles’s sixteenth-century house in Cornwall is at the centre of a community regeneration project that includes a sustainably designed plant nursery. Such is the house’s place at the heart of the community that, when King Charles and the Queen consort are not in residence, the manor – which has both an indoor pool and a tennis court in its grounds – is available to rent as part of the Duchy Estate. The clever part is that the nine-bedroom manor – which sleeps 18 people – encompasses three separate wings and can therefore be divided into three parts, each with its own kitchen and entrance. The central part of the building is the most formal, with an airy sitting room and a large, elegant pale-blue dining room. The two outer wings have smaller sitting rooms. It allows the house to be transformed in a number of ways depending on what is required by each set of occupants.
Balmoral Castle, Scotland
Balmoral Castle was the late Queen’s favourite residence. It was where she accepted Prince Philip’s proposal of marriage, where she spent many a summer, and where she ultimately died. Unlike Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, Balmoral has been a private family possession since the 1850s, when the present building was erected by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. While it is a private property, the residence often opens to visitors from April through the summer.
Dumfries House, Scotland
Dumfries House is a spectacular Adam country house in Ayrshire, Scotland, which the new king also owns via one of his trusts. Not only did the then Prince of Wales and his charity The Prince’s Foundation save the Palladian masterpiece and its original contents for the nation in 2007 when they were about to be put on the open market, he has made it into an admired centre for training people for jobs in heritage, gardening, hospitality, and more, as well as a desirable wedding venue. The king also occupies a suite there when he’s in town.
Zalán Valley guesthouse, Transylvania, Romania
There have been whispers about Romania as a hot holiday destination for a while now, its go-slow rural lifestyle providing an increasing antidote to modern life. Farmers still get around by horse and cart, and fairytale ancient villages are distinguished by their fortified Saxon churches. Nowhere is this bucolic bliss more prevalent than in Transylvania, where King Charles owns a guesthouse that you can stay at for as little as £105 a night. Close to the village of Viscri, amongst the wildflower meadows and rolling forested hills of Zalán Valley, King Charles’s retreat comprises of a cluster of carefully restored cottages in which guest rooms are decorated with antiques, crafts and embroidered textiles that remain true to their Transylvanian roots. Those are the frills - don't expect wifi, radio or TV here – and this is all part of the charm.
Tower of London
One of London's most historic landmarks – the Tower of London – was founded in 1066 by William the Conqueror. The world heritage site which receives 2.4 million visitors a year was the location for the execution of Anne Boleyn. Today, the castle is the home of Crown Jewels, Yeoman Warders, also known as ‘Beefeaters’ and six resident ravens (it is said that the kingdom and the Tower of London will fall if the six resident ravens ever leave the fortress). Since King Charles' ascension to the throne, the half-timbered Tudor building within the tower formerly known as The Queen’s House has now been renamed The King’s House.
Buckingham Palace, London
Princess Elizabeth moved into Buckingham Palace in 1936 when her father became king. The building, initially a town house built in 1703, was purchased by King George III for Queen Charlotte in 1761. It became the official London residence of the royal family in 1837 when Queen Victoria ascended the throne. Architects John Nash and Edward Blore enlarged the palace during the 19th century, and the iconic façade was remodelled in the early 20th century.
Despite it being the official residence for the royals in London, King Charles and Camilla have stayed at Clarence House, as they have done since 2002, a year after the death of the Queen Mother, who died at the age of 101.
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world and has been the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years. The castle was established by William the Conqueror (r.1066-1087) who began building at Windsor around 1070. It took 16 years to complete. It is an official residence of King Charles and is still very much a working royal palace today, home to around 150 people. Prince William and Kate Middleton moved into Adelaide Cottage on the castle grounds in 2022.
Sandringham, Norfolk
Sandringham House, the late Queen Elizabeth's private country residence, is where the Royal Family has celebrated Christmas since 1988 (save for the first two years of the pandemic). The estate has largely remained the same since Charles took full ownership–but it's now set to go through a full acre of the structure’s west lawn, which has been bulldozed in preparation for a new topiary garden. The newly developed garden is set to introduce new species that are more hardy and better able to withstand the impact of emerging weather patterns.
