Will the King have to pay extra council tax at Sandringham?

For the monarch's bill for Sandringham House in Norfolk is set to increase by more than £4,000 when new rules come into force next April.

More than 3,000 owners of second properties in west Norfolk are set to receive letters later this month setting how much extra they will be asked to pay, after the council agreed to a 100pc surcharge earlier this year.

Sandringham House, in Norfolk, which is owned privately by the King (Image: Ian Burt) Some 75,800 households are registered to pay council tax across the borough.

It comes after widespread concerns were raised over the impact of second homes on communities such as those on the Norfolk coast, where burgeoning numbers of holiday properties are pushing house prices out of the reach of locals. 

Band H properties in Sandringham currently pay £4,272.76 a year, meaning the monarch faces paying an extra £4,272,76 in council tax.

Anmer Hall, on the Sandringham Estate (Image: Ian Burt) The Prince of Wales, who owns nearby Anmer Hall is expected to be hit by a similar price hike.

A spokesman for West Norfolk Council, which is the local authority covering both properties, said: "In West Norfolk, we are proud of our enduring links with the Royal Family. 

"Sandringham is well-known as a Royal residence, however we cannot divulge the personal tax payments or arrangements for any of our residents, due to data protection rules. 

West Norfolk council and other authorities are imposing a 100pc council tax surcharge on second homes (Image: PA) "Like many councils, we are introducing a 100pc council tax premium for second homes, as parts of the borough have a significant proportion of second homes, and we will be in touch with the relevant households ahead of this taking effect in April 2025."

The EDP put a number of detailed questions to Buckingham Palace regarding which of his many properties the monarch personally pays the council tax on, along with which is considered his main residence for tax purposes.

An aide responded: "Council tax is paid for privately for private residences. 

King Charles III (Image: PA) "Council tax or business rates on the occupied royal palaces are met by the Sovereign Grant or the Royal Collection Trust."

It is a similar story elsewhere for the King.

For the bill for the monarch's beloved retreated at Balmoral Castle, where he loves to fish for salmon in the Dee and paint watercolours amid the glens has already gone through the roof.

Balmoral Castle (Image: PA) The Scottish Assessors Association, which sets council tax bands, lists Balmoral Castle as in Band H, on which Aberdeenshire Council levies £3,413.88 in council tax, £505.80 for water and £586 for sewage, totalling £4,504.80.

A council spokesman said: "Aberdeenshire Council implemented the additional 100pc charge for second homes from April 1, 2024. This has been applied to all properties classified as a second home. 

The extra tax portion of this will add an extra £3,413.88, meaning a total bill of £7,918.68

Cotswold District Council which covers Highgrove House near Tetbury, in Gloucestershire, has also voted to implement the 100pc extra council tax on second homes from next April.

The north Norfolk coast is a honeypot for second homes (Image: Chris Bishop) The council tax bill for a Band H property in Highgove's postcode is £4,164.22.

The King is reported to rent the property from the Duchy of Cornwall for use as a country retreat.

Council tax or business rates bills for royal palaces such as Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace and Windsor Castle are met by the Sovereign Grant - the taxpayer-funded £86,300,000 settlement from which the King and senior royals use money to pay for what the BBC describes as "expenses related to their official duties".

It added "the vast majority" was spent on the upkeep of properties and staff costs.