List of British royal residences
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
Official residences
Private residences
London
Windsor and nearby
Balmoral
Elsewhere in the United Kingdom
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
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
The Prince and Princess of Wales
Usual country residence of the Prince of Wales
Tamarisk House
Isles of Scilly , England
Gatcombe Park
Minchinhampton , Gloucestershire , England
Private
The Princess Royal
London
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
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
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
Residence
Location
Royals and Dates
Allerton Castle
North Yorkshire
Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (1786–1789)
Apethorpe Palace
Apthorp Park, in Apethorpe, Northamptonshire
Henry VIII to Charles I
Audley End House
Saffron Walden, Essex
Charles II (1668–1701)
Barnwell Manor
Northamptonshire
Princes Henry and Richard, Dukes of Gloucester (1938–1995; sold 2024)
Palace of Beaulieu
Chelmsford , Essex
Henry VIII ; Edward VI ; Mary I ; Elizabeth I (1517–1622)
Beaumont Palace
Oxford
Henry I to Edward II (1130–1318)
Cumberland Lodge
Windsor Great Park
Prince William, Duke of Cumberland ; Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn and Anne, Duchess of Cumberland and Strathearn ; Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex ; Princess Helena of the United Kingdom and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (1746–1803; 1830–1843; 1866–1923)
Fort Belvedere
Prince William, Duke of Cumberland ; Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught ; Edward VIII , Gerald and Angela Lascelles (1953–1976)
Berkhamsted Castle
Berkhamsted , Hertfordshire
William the Conqueror (1066); Henry I (1123); Edward, the Black Prince (1337); a number of Queens consort (1191–1400); last occupied 1469–1496 by Cecily Neville, Duchess of York
Brantridge Park
Balcombe , West Sussex
Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone ; Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom (1919–1941)
Brill Palace
Brill , Buckinghamshire
Edward the Confessor ; Harold Godwinson ; William the Conqueror ; William II ; Henry I ; Stephen ; Henry II ; John ; Henry III ; Edward I ; Edward II ; Edward III (c. 1042–1337; given to Sir John de Moleyns)
Carisbrooke Castle
Newport , Isle of Wight
Charles I ; Princess Elizabeth; Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester and Princess Henrietta ; Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom (1647 – c. 1652, 1896–1944; now managed by English Heritage )
Castlewood House
Egham, Surrey
Leased by The Duke and Duchess of York (1987–1990)
Chideock Manor
Dorset
Rented by The Duke and Duchess of York (1986–1987)
Claremont
Esher, Surrey
Princess 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 until 1865, 1882–1922)[clarification needed ]
Clarendon Palace
Salisbury , Wiltshire
Used for hunting trips during the Middle Ages. Now ruined.
Cliveden
Buckinghamshire
George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 3rd Duke of Sutherland
Coombe Abbey
Warwickshire
Owned 16th century–?; Elizabeth of Bohemia (early 17th century)
Coppins
Buckinghamshire
Princess Victoria ; Princes George and Edward, Dukes of Kent (1925–1973)
Crocker End House
Oxfordshire
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (1990–?)
Cumberland Lodge
Windsor Great Park
Princes 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)
Eastwell Park
Kent
Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Maria, Duchess of Edinburgh (rented 1874–1893)
Eltham Palace
The Crown (Edward II to Henry VIII ; now managed by English Heritage)
Frogmore House
Windsor
Queen 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 House
Weymouth
Summer residence of Prince William, Duke of Gloucester (later 18th century)
Goldsborough Hall
North Yorkshire
Yorkshire home of Princess Mary (1923–1930) – owned by the Estate of Harewood
Harewood House
West Yorkshire
Yorkshire home of Princess Mary (1930–1965) – owned by the Estate of Harewood
Hatfield House
Hertfordshire
The Crown (residents included Prince Edward and Princess Elizabeth ; 16th century – 1607)
Havering Palace
Havering, Essex
c. 1050 – c. 1640
Kent House
Isle of Wight
Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll (from 1901)
King James' Palace
Royston , Hertfordshire
Built by James I as a hunting lodge, it was also used by his son Charles I (1607–1649)
Kingsbourne House
Wentworth, Surrey
Leased by Sarah, Duchess of York (1994–1997)
Kings Langley Palace
Hertfordshire
Used by the Plantagenet to Tudor Kings (1276–1558)
Leeds Castle
Kent
Edward I and Queen Eleanor of Castile (1278); Edward II and Isabella of France (1321); Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon (1519)
Nether Lypiatt Manor
Stroud, Gloucestershire
Former country home of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent
Oak Grove House
Sandhurst
Oatlands Palace
Weybridge, Surrey
Henry VIII ; Edward VI ; Mary I ; Elizabeth I (and the Stuart line)
Oatlands Park
Osborne Cottage
Isle of Wight
Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom (1901–1912)
Osborne House
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert (1846–1901). Queen Victoria died there on 22 January 1901. Bequeathed to her successor Edward VII , who gave it to the nation later that year.
Ribsden Holt
Windlesham, Surrey
Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll ; Princess Patricia of Connaught
Romenda Lodge
Wentworth Estate, Surrey
Detached house leased by the Duchess of York 1992–1994
The Royal Pavilion , Brighton
Brighton, East Sussex
George IV ; William IV ; Victoria (1786–1838)
Sunninghill Park
Ascot , Windsor
Prince Andrew, Duke of York and family (c. 1990–2004)
Theobalds Palace
Hertfordshire
The Crown. James I exchanged it by Act of Parliament with Lord Burleigh; Charles I also lived there; granted in 1 & 2 William and Mary to William, Duke of Portland
Walmer Castle
Walmer, Kent
Westfield
Bonchurch, Isle of Wight
Built as hunting lodge for Queen Adelaide in 1825, now converted into apartments, most of the estate sold
The King's House
Winchester
Proposed and partly completed royal residence for Charles II designed by Sir Christopher Wren .
Windlesham Moor
Windsor
The Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh , Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1947–4 July 1949[ 12] )
Witley Court
Worcestershire
Wood Farm
Sandringham Estate
From his retirement in 2017, the house was home to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh .
Woodstock Palace
Oxfordshire
York Cottage
In the grounds of Sandringham House , Norfolk
Occupied by 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 .
Scotland
Residence
Location
Royals and Dates
Abergeldie Castle
Abergeldie, Aberdeenshire
Queen Victoria to Elizabeth II (1848–1970)
Cadzow Castle
South Lanarkshire , Scotland
Scottish crown (David I , Alexander II , Alexander III , John , Robert I ); Mary, Queen of Scots (mid-early 12th century to early 14th century, early May 1568)
Doune Castle
Stirlingshire
Seat of the Duke of Albany (1380–1603)
Dunfermline Palace
Dunfermline , Fife
Seat of the King of Scots (1500–1650)
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh
A residence of the Kings of Scots from the 11th to the 17th centuries, last used by Charles I in 1633 (now managed by Historic Scotland )
Falkland Palace
Falkland, Fife
Various, including Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany ; David Stewart, Duke of Rothesay (The Scottish Crown 14th century –; now National Trust for Scotland )
Glamis Castle
Glamis, Angus
Residence of the Kings of Scots up to Robert II . Much later, three rooms were let to George VI and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother
The Castle of Mey
near John o' Groats
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (1952–2002)
Linlithgow Palace
West Lothian
Stirling Castle
Stirling
Kings of Scots
Wales
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
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
See also
References
External links