When we think about where the British royal family lives, our minds instantly go to Buckingham Palace. It's certainly the most iconic of the royal residences. But it's definitely not the only one — not by a long shot. In fact, while Queen Elizabeth lives there today, Prince William and Kate Middleton can be found at Kensington Palace, and Prince Charles and wife Camilla live somewhere else entirely. The list is longer than you might think!
Between the palaces, actual castles, country homes, and everywhere in between, the royals own seriously impressive properties all over Britain. That way, when they travel to areas such as Scotland or Ireland on royal business (or just to get away from it all), they have somewhere to stay that's properly outfitted with what they need — and the right security to keep them safe.
Ready to drool over some gorgeous royal real estate? Here are the residences owned by the royals, though most of them will continue to get passed down as long as the monarchy exists.
Buckingham Palace
Perhaps the most famous of the royal residences, Buckingham Palace is where the Queen lives when she's in London — and it's also one of the palaces that is open to visitors. The royals use the balcony of the palace often, including when they take in Trooping the Colour every summer.
Kensington Palace
Not only is Kensington Palace where Prince William and Prince Harry grew up with Princess Diana and Prince Charles, but it's also where William, Kate Middleton, and their children live today (and where their offices are). Areas of the palace are also open to the public, including the King's State Apartments and the Queen's State Apartments.
Windsor Castle
According to the royal family's website, Windsor Castle, which is where the Queen spends her weekends, is more than 900 years old. Located in Windsor, Berkshire, this residence is where Elizabeth often hosts political figures, and she stays there over the Easter holiday each year. St. George's Chapel — where Meghan Markle and Prince Harry got married, along with many other royals — is on the sprawling grounds of Windsor Castle.
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Sandringham House
If Sandringham House sounds familiar, that's because it's made a lot of headlines over the years. Located in the English county of Norfolk, Sandringham is the Queen's country estate, and it's also where the family gathers to celebrate the Christmas holidays every year. It's also open to visitors, who can even stop by for afternoon tea or lunch.
Anmer Hall
Anmer Hall is William and Kate's country estate, located on the Sandringham House grounds. According to The Week, the house was built in 1802 and has 10 bedrooms, along with a swimming pool and a tennis court — and plenty of land for George, Charlotte, and Louis to run around outside. The house is private, though, and not much is known about what it looks like inside.
Balmoral Castle
Located in Scotland, Balmoral Castle is the Queen's getaway home, and at certain times of the year, it's even open to the public (including cottages that people can rent out). The Queen usually takes up residence there every August and September, with members of the royal family visiting her during her stay.
Clarence House
Clarence House is the official residence of Prince Charles and Camilla. Built in the 1800s and located in London, it was also once home to the Queen Mother, along with then-Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip after they got married (and before she was Queen, of course). It's open to the public every August.
Frogmore Cottage
Frogmore Cottage was once the home of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, but they've since moved to the US full time. Though it still technically belongs to them, right now, they're letting Princess Eugenie, Jack Brooksbank, and their son, August, live there. As Hello! reported, the home includes five bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and a nursery.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Holyroodhouse is in Edinburgh, Scotland, and where the Queen stays during her annual Holyrood Week as she does business and hosts her garden party. Prince Charles also stays there for a week every year. Built in the 1600s, this residence is also open to visitors.
Hillsborough Castle
Found in Northern Ireland is Hillsborough Castle, whose gardens are often used for events throughout the year. Dating back to the 1600s, not only is it where the royals stay when visiting Northern Ireland, but it's also where the Secretary of State of Northern Ireland lives full time.
St. James's Palace
According to the royal family's website, St. James's Palace was where the king and queen of England lived until Queen Victoria took the throne. Now it's home to offices, as well as where Charles, Princess Anne, and Princess Alexandra stay when they're in London.
Highgrove House
Located in Gloucestershire, Highgrove House is another one of the homes inhabited by Camilla and Charles. Boasting some seriously impressive gardens, Charles first started staying at Highgrove in 1980. The estate has gone through a lot of renovations since and is now open to visitors.
Craigowan Lodge
Craigowan Lodge is located on the Balmoral property, and according to Express, it's where Diana and Charles would stay when they were visiting Scotland. The stone cottage has seven bedrooms, and although it's mostly used as a guest house, the Queen does stay there while the main house is being prepared for her during her annual visit.
Gatcombe Park
Located in Gloucestershire, Gatcombe Park is where Princess Anne lives. The private house is set on more than 700 acres, and was a wedding gift from the Queen to the Princess Royal when she married her first husband, Mark Philips. The Gatcombe Park estate is also a working farm.
Llwynywermod
Llwynywermod is definitely a mouthful — the Welsh word is pronounced "loo-en-ee-wer-mod" — but it's also a pretty impressive residence that's near the village of Myddfai in Wales. Considering that Charles is the Prince of Wales, it's no surprise that this is one of the homes where he and Camilla stay.
Bagshot Park
Bagshot Park in Surrey is the home of Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, along with their children James, the Viscount Severn, and Lady Louise. The house is situated on more than 50 acres, and according to Woman and Home, the private residence may have as many as 150 rooms. It is only a few miles away from Windsor Castle.
