Buckingham Palace will remain closed to state visits until 2027

Over the next three years, no state visits will be held at Buckingham Palace as the building undergoes one of the most extensive renovations in its history, a Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports, citing The Times.

Following the visit of the Emir of Qatar in December, all state visits will take place at Windsor Castle until 2027. This change is due to the ongoing ten-year renovation of Buckingham Palace, which is projected to cost £369 million, according to the publication.

Previously, the Palace announced that the King and Queen would move from Clarence House to Buckingham Palace after the renovations. However, sources now suggest that the private quarters will only be updated for “potential occupancy.”

In 2017, The Sunday Times reported that Charles planned to abandon Buckingham Palace as the royal residence upon becoming king. However, Clarence House later denied this claim, as noted by The Times.

Sources state that Charles and Camilla feel “very comfortable” at Clarence House.

All state visits after the Emir of Qatar’s visit will be held at Windsor Castle until mid-2027, when renovations at Buckingham Palace are expected to be completed. Charles and Camilla will continue to host small receptions in some of the Palace’s rooms next year. However, these rooms are also scheduled to close in 2025. Afterward, all royal receptions will be relocated to St. James’s Palace or Windsor Castle until Buckingham Palace fully reopens in 2027.

The report highlights that construction work will be temporarily paused during the summer months to allow for the traditional opening of the State Rooms to the public and the annual themed exhibition, held from July to September.

Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of British monarchs since 1837.