By Katherine Tinsley
8:43pm PDT, Aug 29, 2025
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King Charles III and
Prince William represent a new era for the royal family, and their choice of residence could change how Buckingham Palace functions as the nucleus of the monarchy. Charles has lived at Clarence House since 2003, while his heir has called Windsor Great Park home for several years. So why doesn't anyone want to live at the palace?
Keep reading to find out…
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Prince William and Kate Middleton are moving into Forest Lodge, which they're expected to make their forever home — even after becoming king and queen. Royal expert Robert Lacey told The Telegraph that Buckingham Palace will be "seen as an office" for the royals instead of a home base.
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"I don't think it was ever loved. If you read what kings have said in their diaries, it was always seen as an office," Robert Lacey told The Telegraph of Buckingham Palace. "I think, actually, as an office, it has been very successful. As a ceremonial figurehead for the Royal family, as the place that visitors identify with, it's been a great success."
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Robert Lacey called Buckingham Palace "bleak" and said that living there is "like living in an Edwardian hotel in Brighton." Explained Lacey, "There are these long corridors. And it's very bleak in so many ways."
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Prince William and Kate Middleton moved from Kensington Palace in London to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor in 2022. However, in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II's death and Kate's cancer battle, they decided to start fresh at the nearby Forest Lodge property.
