Fears one of the most famous buildings in the world will become a giant white elephant: 'Not fit for purpose'

For close to 200 years, Buckingham Palace has served not just as the primary residence of the UK's king or queen, but a symbol of the British monarchy itself.

According to the royal family's official website, Buckingham Palace is one of the most iconic buildings in the world – instantly recognisable as the official residence of the British sovereign.

But there are now fresh fears the palace, which is undergoing a 10-year refurbishment will become a white elephant after it emerged both the current King and his heir have no plans to move in.

READ MORE: Families forced out of homes ahead of William and Kate's big move

Buckingham Palace has served as the official residence of the UK's sovereigns since 1837, when Queen Victoria moved in at the start of her reign, and has hosted four other monarchs since then.

As well as serving as the monarch's London home, it is their administrative headquarters and hosts many official events and receptions.

According to the royal family's official website, Buckingham Palace is one of the most iconic buildings in the world.

"Instantly recognisable as the official residence of the sovereign, it is also a working building, hosting almost 100,000 guests and attracting over 15 million tourists every year," it said.

READ MORE: What Melania's $61 million doco says about Trump family's future

Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms, including 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.

Buckingham Palace is neither privately nor publicly owned, but owned by the Crown Estate, which means it is the property of whomever is monarch at the time.

According to the Crown Estate Act 2025, profits are delivered to the British Treasury, which then decides the annual payment to be made to the sovereign of the day in the form of the Sovereign Grant.

Parts of Buckingham Palace date back to the 1600s and includes a former home known as Buckingham House.

In 1761, King George III bought Buckingham House for his wife Queen Charlotte to use as a family retreat away from St James's Palace, where official functions were then held.

It became known as the Queen's House.

When George IV acceded to the throne in 1820, he at first planned to use it as a private family home but by 1826, decided to transform it into a palace, with the help of architect John Nash.

New plans were drawn up, doubling the size of a planned renovation, which included new state rooms.

After George IV's death, he was acceded by his brother, William IV, who took over the project.

On his death in 1837, his niece became Queen Victoria and was the first monarch to move into Buckingham Palace.

About a decade into her reign, a fourth wing was added to the palace to house her children and guests.

These works included the now famous balcony where the royal family gathers for major events such as the annual Trooping the Colour.

Further additions were also made during her reign.

After the death of her husband Prince Albert in 1861, Queen Victoria rarely used Buckingham Palace, instead preferring Windsor Castle.

Buckingham Palace was the official home of four of the five monarchs who came after her; King Edward VII, King George V, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.

View gallery

All the defining photos of the British royal family in 2025

Only Edward VIII missed out on living there during his short reign as he had abdicated after just one year, however he did live there during the reign of his father George V.

Queen Elizabeth's father, King George VI lived there during his reign alongside his consort, Queen Elizabeth I. Their daughters, then princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, lived in the palace during their childhoods.

After her father's death in 1952, the new Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, famously asked permission not to move into the palace.

At the time, the couple had been living in Clarence House with their two eldest children, Charles and Anne.

Both a documentary and the hit TV series The Crown explored the young couple's desire to remain living at Clarence House, but they were dissuaded by then British PM Winston Churchill.

The Queen and Prince Philip eventually moved in and welcomed their youngest sons, princes Andrew and Edward, while living there.

Despite famously sleeping in separate rooms throughout their marriage, the palace, and in particular the private areas, was very much a family home.

They remained in Buckingham Palace until the COVID pandemic forced them to relocate to Windsor Castle. Prince Philip died there in April 2021, while the Queen passed away at Balmoral in September 2022.

Since King Charles acceded to the throne, he has continued to live in his long-time London home Clarence House, only travelling to Buckingham Palace for official duties.

The palace hosts a number of official events each year, although state banquets have recently been relocated to Windsor Castle as refurbishment works continue for the next two years.

Now it is looking increasingly unlikely King Charles and Queen Camilla will ever move in.

While some have argued the ongoing 'reservicing' of Buckingham Palace is behind this decision, the late Queen continued to live there for the first three years of the 10-year project.

The royal family's own website states "the palace will remain occupied and fully operational for the duration" of the works.

Instead, media reports have stated King Charles never planned to live in Buckingham Palace.

"He doesn't see it as a viable future home or a house that's fit for purpose in the modern world," an insider told The Times in 2022.

Now it seems his son and heir also has no plans to move his family into Buckingham Palace when the time comes.

It was recently revealed that preparations are under way for William, Kate and their three children, George, Charlotte and Louis, to move from Adelaide Cottage to the much grander Forest Lodge within Windsor Great Park by the end of this year.

The family has lived in Adelaide Cottage since shortly before the Queen died in 2022, having moved out of their lavish 20-room apartment in Kensington Palace to give their children a more private upbringing away from London.

It remains their London base and their offices are located there.

The BBC said the family considered Forest Lodge to be their 'forever home' and that they would remain there even after they become king and queen.

The Daily Mail also quoted a source who said it was William's intention to remain in Windsor after he becomes king.

"This is for the long term and it's their intention to stay in Forest Lodge once he becomes king," a source said.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.