List of British royal residences

Wikimedia list article

This is a list of residences occupied by the British Royal family, noting the seasons of the year they are traditionally occupied.

Members of the British Royal Family live in many different residences around the United Kingdom. Some are royal palaces, owned by the state and held in trust by the monarch; others are privately owned. Balmoral Castle and Sandringham House have been inherited as private property for several generations. Other royal palaces are no longer residences (e.g. the Palace of Westminster, the Palace of Whitehall). Some remain in irregular use for royal occasions. The Royal Palaces enjoy certain legal privileges, for example there is an exemption from levying duty on alcoholic beverages sold in the bars at the Palace of Westminster and there are exemptions from Health and Safety legislation.

The occupied royal residences of are cared for and maintained by the Royal Household Property Section. The unoccupied royal palaces of England are now within the responsibility of the Historic Royal Palaces Agency.

Current royal residences by members of the Royal Family

ResidenceLocationNotes
His Majesty King Charles And Her Majesty Queen Camilla

Official

St. James's PalaceLondonTechnically still the "senior palace" of the monarch; the Chapel Royal is situated there and foreign ambassadors are still accredited to it. However, the King and Queen do not have an apartment there
Buckingham PalaceLondonOfficial London residence (Monday to Friday)
Windsor CastleWindsor, BerkshireOfficial country residence (Most weekends; a month over Easter; a week in June for Royal Ascot and the service of the Order of the Garter)
Palace of HolyroodhouseEdinburghOfficial Scottish residence (Whenever the Royal Family undertake official duties in Scotland: primarily Holyrood week in July)

Private

inherited from his mother

Sandringham HouseNorfolkChristmas until February
Balmoral CastleAberdeenshireAugust and September
Craigowan LodgeBalmoral, Aberdeenshire
Delnadamph LodgeBalmoral, Aberdeenshire

TRH The Prince and Princess of Wales

Official

Clarence HouseSt James's Palace, LondonOfficial London residence

Private

HighgroveGloucestershire
BirkhallBalmoral, Aberdeenshirepreviously used by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother
LlwynywormwoodMyddfai, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire
TamariskIsles of Scilly

HRH The Duke of York

Official

Buckingham PalaceLondonOfficial London residence
The Royal LodgeWindsor, BerkshireOfficial country residence, leased from the Crown Estate

TRH The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh

Official

Buckingham PalaceLondonOfficial London residence
Bagshot ParkSurreyOfficial country residence, leased from the Crown Estate

HRH The Princess Royal

Official

St James's PalaceLondonOfficial London residence

Private

Gatcombe ParkMinchinhampton, GloucestershirePrivately-owned home

TRH The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester

Official

Kensington PalaceLondonOfficial London residence
Barnwall ManorBarnwell, NorthamptonshireNot in residence - leased since 1995

TRH The Duke and Duchess of Kent

Official

Wren HouseKensington Palace, LondonOfficial London residence

TRH Prince and Princess Michael of Kent

Official

Kensington PalaceLondonOfficial London residence

HRH Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy

Official

St. James's PalaceLondonOfficial London residence
Thatched House LodgeRichmond, SurreyOfficial country residence, leased from the Crown Estate

Current Royal Residences by Type of Residence

ResidenceLocationMember(s)

Official

Buckingham PalaceLondonThe King, The Yorks, The Wessexes
Clarence HouseLondonThe Waleses
Kensington PalaceLondonThe Gloucesters, Prince and Princess Michael (also a Historic Royal Palace)
Wren HouseKensington Palace, LondonThe Kents
St. James's PalaceLondonThe Princess Royal, Princess Alexandra
Windsor CastleWindsor, BerkshireVarious
Palace of HolyroodhouseEdinburghVarious
Hillsborough CastleCounty Down, Northern IrelandVarious

Crown Estate leases

The Royal LodgeWindsor, BerkshireThe Yorks
Bagshot ParkSurreyThe Wessexes
Thatched House LodgeRichmond, LondonPrincess Alexandra
Barnwall ManorBarnwell, NorthamptonshireThe Gloucesters

Privately-owned

Gatcombe ParkMinchinhampton, GloucestershireThe Princess Royal
Sandringham HouseNorfolkThe Queen (inherited)
Balmoral CastleAberdeenshireThe Queen (inherited)
Craigowan LodgeBalmoral, AberdeenshireThe Queen (inherited)
Delnadamph LodgeBalmoral, AberdeenshireThe Queen (inherited)
HighgroveGloucestershireThe Waleses
Birkhall HouseBalmoral, AberdeenshireThe Rothesays
LlwynywormwoodMyddfai, Llandovery, CarmarthenshireThe Waleses
TamariskIsles of ScillyThe Cornwalls

Former Royal residences

ResidenceLocationRoyal(s) & Date(s)
Ailesbury HouseLeicester Square, London
The AlbanyPiccadilly, LondonPrince Frederick, Duke of York (1791–1802)
Allerton CastleNorth YorkshirePrince Frederick, Duke of York (1786–1789)
Anmer HallAnmer, Norfolk (Sandringham Estate)Leased by the Kents (1972–1990)
Audley End HouseSaffron Walden, EssexCharles II (1668–1701)
Banqueting HouseWhitehall, LondonLast remaining property of the Palace of Whitehall, now a Historic Royal Palace
Barnwell ManorNorthamptonshirePrinces Henry and Richard, Dukes of Gloucester (1938–1995, still owned)
Barton LodgeWinkfield, Berkshire
Palace of BeaulieuChelmsford, EssexHenry VIII; Edward VI; Mary I; Elizabeth I (1517–1622)
Beaumont PalaceOxfordOwned by The Crown (Henry I through Edward II; 1130–1318)
Fort BelvedereWindsor Great ParkPrince William, Duke of Cumberland; Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught; Edward VIII (1750–1936; still owned by the Crown Estate)
Bentley PrioryLondonQueen Adelaide (leased 1846/8–1849)
Birch HallSurreyBought and sold in 1998 by the trustees representing Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie of York. Never occupied by the Princesses nor their mother, who claimed that financial difficulties prevented her from running the house (1998)
Brantridge ParkBalcombe, West SussexPrincess Alice, Countess of Athlone; Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom (1919–1941)
Bridewell PalaceLondonHenry VIII; Edward VI (1515–1523, owned 'til 1556)
Bushy HouseTeddington, LondonWilliam IV; the FitzClarences; Mrs Jordan; Queen Adelaide (1797–1849; still owned)
Cadzow CastleSouth Lanarkshire, ScotlandScottish crown (David I, Alexander II, Alexander III, John, Robert I); Mary, Queen of Scots (mid-early twelfth century - early fourteenth century, early May 1568)
Caernarfon CastleCaernarfon, WalesEdward I (1283– still owned)
Cambridge CottageKew
Cambridge HousePiccadilly, LondonOfficial London residence of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge (1829–1850)
Carisbrooke CastleNewport, Isle of WightCharles I; Princess Elizabeth; Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester and Princess Henrietta; Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom (1647-c. 1652, 1896–1944; now English Heritage)
Carlton HouseLondonGeorge IV (1783–1827; now Carlton House Terrace, still owned by the Crown Estate)
Castle Hill LodgeEalingUsed by Maria Anne Fitzherbert from October 1795 and George, Prince of Wales then bought by Edward,Duke of Kent(father of Queen Victoria) who spent £100,000 enhancing the house.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.
Castlewood HouseEgham, SurreyLeased by The Duke and Duchess of York (1987-1990)
Chelsea ManorLondonPrincess Elizabeth; Anne of Cleves (1536–1547, c. 1547–1557)
Chesterfield HouseGreenwich
CheveningKentOwned by the Crown Estate and used as the official residence of the Foreign Secretary (1980–)
Chideock ManorDorsetRented by The Duke and Duchess of York (1986-1987)
Chiswick HouseBurlington Lane, Chiswick, LondonAcquired by English Heritage, 1929
Christ ChurchOxfordCharles I (1642–1649)
ClaremontEsher, SurreyPrincess Charlotte Augusta of Wales and Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld; Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany and Princess Helena, Duchess of Albany (1816–1831; owned 'til 1865, 1882–1922)
Clivenden
Connaught PlaceLondon
CoppinsBuckinghamshirePrincess Victoria; Princes Henry and Edward, Dukes of Kent (1925-1973)
Crocker End HouseOxfordshirePrince Edward, Duke of Kent (1990-?)
Crosby HallChelsea, LondonRichard, Duke of Gloucester (mid-late 15th Century)[1]
Cumberland Cottage
Cumberland HousePall Mall, LondonPrince Edward, Duke of York; Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland (c. 1760–1801; as York House 'til 1767)
Cumberland LodgeWindsor Great ParkPrinces William and Henry, Dukes of Cumberland; Anne, Duchess of Cumberland; Prince Augustus, Duke of Sussex; Princess Helena, Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (1746–1803; 1830–1843; 1872–1923; still owned)
Dolphin SquareEmbankment, LondonThe Princess Royal, at some point or other, but never owned
Dover HouseLondonPrince Frederick, Duke of York (1788–1792)
Dublin CastleDublin, IrelandSeat of Lords and Kings of Ireland (1171–1922)
Dunfermline PalaceDunfermline, FifeSeat of the King of Scots (1500–1650)
East Sheen LodgeLondon
Eastwell ParkKentPrince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Maria, Duchess of Edinburgh (rented 1874–1893)
Edinburgh CastleEdinburgh, MidlothianKings of Scots (now Historic Scotland)
Eltham PalaceKentThe Crown (Edward II through Henry VIII; now English Heritage)
Falkland PalaceStirlingshireVarious, including Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany; David Stewart, Duke of Rothesay (The Scottish Crown 14th Century –; now National Trust for Scotland)
Frogmore HouseWindsorQueen Charlotte and her then-unmarried daughters – Charlotte, Princess Royal, Princesses Princess Augusta, Elizabeth, Mary, Sophia, Amelia; Princess Augusta; Princess Victoria, Duchess of Kent (leased 1792–)
Gloucester HouseWeymouthSummer residence of Prince William, Duke of Gloucester (later 18th Century)
Gloucester HousePiccadilly, LondonPrince William, Duke of Gloucester died here, 1805
Gloucester LodgeBrompton
Gunnersbury ParkLondonSummer retreat of Princess Amelia (1760–1786)
Hampton Court PalaceLondonThe Crown, since Henry VIII (1525–; now a Historic Royal Palace)
Hatfield HouseHertfordshireThe Crown (residents included Prince Edward and Princess Elizabeth; 16th Century – 1607)
Ingestre HouseBelgrave Square, London
Kent HouseIsle of WightPrincess Louise, Duchess of Argyll (from 1901)
Kew HouseIsle of Wight
Kew PalaceLondonFrederick, Prince of Wales; George III; The Crown since (Mid-18th Century –; now a Historic Royal Palace)
Kingsbourne HouseWentworth, SurreyLeased by Sarah, Duchess of York (1994–1997)
Kings LangleyHertfordshireUsed by the Plantagenet to Tudor Kings (1276–1558)
Lancaster HouseLondon
Leeds CastleKent
Leicester HouseLondonFrederick, Prince of Wales (c. 1730–1751)
Les Jollies EauxMustique, St VincentGift to Princess Margaret. Sold by her son Viscount Linley in 2000.
Linlithgow PalaceWest Lothian
Tower of LondonLondonNow a Historic Royal Palace
Marlborough HouseLondonPrincess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh; Queen Adelaide (1837–1849); Edward VII of the United Kingdom and Alexandra of Denmark (1863–1901); George, Prince of Wales and Mary, Princess of Wales (1901–1910). Occupied by Queen Mary, Dowager Queen 1945-1953.
The Castle of Meynr. John o' GroatsQueen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (1952–2002)
Nether Lypiatt ManorStroud, Gloucestershireformer country home of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent
Nonsuch PalaceLondon
Norfolk HouseLondonFrederick, Prince of Wales
Oak Grove HouseSandhurst
Oatlands PalaceWeybridge, SurreyKing Henry VIII; King Edward VI; Queen Mary I; Queen Elizabeth I (and the Stuart line)
Oatlands ParkWeybridge, Surrey
Osborne CottageIsle of WightPrincess Beatrice of the United Kingdom (1901–1912)
Osborne HouseIsle of WightQueen Victoria and Prince Albert (1846–1901). Queen Victoria died there on 22 January 1901. Bequeathed to her successor King Edward VII, who gave it to the nation later that year.
Palace of PlacentiaLondonThe Palace at Greenwich, acquired by Margaret of Anjou (consort to Henry VI), last used by Charles I
Queen Charlotte's CottageKew?
Queen's HouseGreenwichBuilt in the Gardens of the Palace of Greenwich for Anne of Denmark, consort to James I
Ranger's HouseGreenwich
Ribsden HoltWindlesham, SurreyPrincess Louise, Duchess of Argyll; Princess Patricia of Connaught
Richmond PalaceLondonAlso known as Palace of Sheen, Royal Residence 1327 to 1649, little remains
Romenda LodgeWentworth Estate, SurreyLeased by the Duchess of York 1992-1994.
Royal HospitalDublin?
The Royal Pavilion, BrightonBrighton, East SussexGeorge IV; William IV; Victoria (1786–1838)
Sagana LodgeKenya
Savile HouseLeicester Square, London
Savoy PalaceLondon
Schomberg HousePall Mall, LondonPrincess Helena of the United Kingdom
Somerset HouseLondonQueen Elizabeth I; Queen Henrietta Maria
Stirling CastleStirlingshire
Sunninghill ParkAscot, WindsorPrince Andrew, Duke of York and family (c. 1990—2004)
Sussex HouseUpper Mall, Hammersmith, LondonPrince Augustus, Duke of Sussex
Walmer CastleWalmer, Kent
Palace of WestminsterLondonSaxon-1530,
Palace of WhitehallLondon1530-1698
White LodgeRichmondPrincess Amelia Sophia of Great Britain; King 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 George, Duke of York and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (c. 1740–1923)
The King's HouseWinchesterProposed royal residence for King Charles II
Windlesham MoorWindsorThe Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh & Prince Charles of Edinburgh (1947–4 July 1949[2])
Witley CourtWorcestershire
Woodstock PalaceOxfordshire
York CottageIn the grounds of Sandringham House, NorfolkOccupied by King George V and his wife Queen Mary as Duke and Duchess of York. They retained use of the small cottage after their accession in 1910. It was later given to George V's son, Prince Albert, Duke of York and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.
York House, St James's PalaceLondonVarious royal residents

References