King Charles quizzed by government official over tax payments

King Charles has royal residences to call "home" up and down the UK, including two spectacular properties in Scotland - Balmoral Castle and The Palace of Holyroodhouse. His Majesty likes to spend the summer months at Balmoral in Aberdeenshire and royal week at Holyroodhouse. Recently, a member of the Scottish Parliament has written to the monarch to ask him to clarify the taxes he pays on these homes, as reported by The Herald. 

Aberdeen Central MSP Jack Middleton said he had written to Charles "in good faith" to get "clarity" with regard to the payment for both properties north of the border. 

The letter comes after Aberdeenshire Council introduced a 200 per cent premium on second homes in the area in September this year – meaning property owners pay 300 per cent of the council tax rate. Edinburgh City Council is set to charge a council tax premium of 300 per cent on second homes. 

The note to the King read:  "From September 1 2026, Aberdeenshire Council has introduced a 200 per cent council tax premium on second homes. This means that Balmoral Castle, one of your multiple homes away from your permanent residence at Clarence House, should be charged three times the standard rate of council tax.

“On top of this, the City of Edinburgh Council will introduce a 300 per cent Council Tax premium on second homes. Holyroodhouse should therefore soon be charged four times the standard rate."

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It is unknown if the monarch is yet to reply to Jack on the matter.

A royal love affair with Scotland  

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The Balmoral Estate is often referred to as late Queen Elizabeth II's "happy place". She famously spent every late summer through early autumn at the estate, where she could drive her Land Rover across the Highlands, go horseback riding, walk her dogs, and host informal family gatherings. King Charles and Queen Camilla continue this tradition, spending private downtime at both Balmoral and their personal Scottish retreat, Birkhall on the Balmoral estate. 

Speaking in 2024 at the Scottish Parliament to mark its 25th anniversary, King Charles reaffirmed his family's personal connection with Scotland. He said: "Scotland has always had a uniquely special place in the hearts of my family and myself. We are all, at the end of each day, united by our love of Scotland - because of its natural beauty, of course, but also because of its strength of character... who, I wonder, could not fail to be moved by this complex Caledonian kaleidoscope?"