When King Charles took on the role of monarch after his mother Queen Elizabeth II sadly passed away in September 2022, he also inherited the responsibility of a portfolio of royal residences.
Keen to make his mark, His Majesty has implemented a few changes at his royal homes since his coronation, and here we take a look at the positive switch-ups as well as the controversial decisions…
Balmoral opened to visitors
Charles decided to open Balmoral to members of the public for the first time in 2024, and welcomed visitors ever since. However, his late mother preferred to keep the residence for private use.
An Instagram post advertising the tickets explained what the intimate tours would be like. "Journey through history, from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's purchase of the Balmoral Estate to the present day. You’ll have the rare opportunity to view a selection of rooms within the Castle that are still used by Their Majesties The King and Queen, as well as other members of the Royal Family," it read.
Locals to pay for Windsor Castle entry now
In 2024, it was announced that the scheme to let residents living in the same borough as Windsor Castle visit for free was ending. Now, neighbouring visitors must pay for their tickets, but they still receive 50 per cent off the admission fee. Understandably, local residents were not too happy about this change.
© Photo: Getty ImagesNot residing at Buckingham Palace
Queen Elizabeth II chose Buckingham Palace, as her main London base, but Charles and his wife Camilla remain living at their primary residence, Clarence House.
Although this is a change from the normal proceedings of a monarch, there’s a good reason behind the choice. The palace is currently undergoing reservicing works and parts of it are still building sites, so it makes sense that the royal couple wouldn’t move in yet. At the moment, 2027 has been set as the expected date when the King is set to relocate.
Enforcing air restrictions over Sandringham
In March 2025, a no-fly zone was enforced over Sandringham after unannounced drones were spotted flying above the property. This change is to ensure the safety of the royals and their VIP guests.
© NurPhoto via Getty ImagesThe restrictions were requested by security services on 4 March last year, days after the King hosted Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. This is a relatively new problem because of the growing prevalence of drones but making changes to ensure privacy is likely to be an action that the late Queen would have agreed with.
The launch of Heritage Live Concerts
In 2023, Charles allowed Heritage Live Concerts to host incredible shows at his Sandringham Estate, where the likes of Robbie Williams have performed. While this decision came after his mother’s passing, merging royal homes and public entertainment is a concept the late Queen knew all too well.
A-listers and fans flocked to Buckingham Palace for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee concerts, and they were a great success.
Eco initiatives
Known for his commitment to protecting the planet and eco initiatives, the monarch has made several changes that have been deemed controversial by some.
© danieldepDuring renovations at Windsor Castle to replace the old leaking roof, Charles took the opportunity to give the historic home an eco upgrade. "Roof-mounted photovoltaic panels" have been installed at the property, and this is testimony to His Majesty's passion for the environment. He already runs organic farms and has turned down the thermostats in royal residences to reduce costs.
He also replaced a large area of lawn at Sandringham with a climate-friendly "topiary garden" featuring 5,000 yew trees and various pollinators. Critics of the change felt it altered the historic, "clean" look of the estate that the Queen preferred.
Finally, the monarch is overseeing a £369 million reservicing of Buckingham Palace to make it more energy-efficient, the high cost of which some critics argue is difficult to justify during a cost-of-living crisis.
