Visiting the Palaces Where Current Kings and Queens of the World Reside Today

There are many magnificent fairy-tale palaces still in use by royal families around the world as their residences.

When we think of palaces, we often envision ancient castles that have been abandoned for many years. However, the reality is that in modern times, many countries still maintain monarchies, and kings, queens, and their royal families continue to reside in these grand palaces. Let’s take a tour of some of the royal residences around the world today:

1. Drottningholm Palace in Stockholm, Sweden

Drottningholm Palace has 600 rooms and has been the permanent residence of the Swedish Royal Family since 1981. It houses five museums and the Drottningholm Palace Theatre, the only 18th-century theatre in the world that still uses its original machinery. The southern rooms are reserved for the royal family, but the rest of the palace grounds are open year-round for tourists.

2. Amalienborg Palace, Copenhagen, Denmark

Amalienborg Palace consists of four identical buildings constructed in Rococo architectural style. The square located between the four palaces is considered the center of Denmark’s capital and is a major tourist attraction. Currently, one building is used by Queen Margrethe II, another by Crown Prince Frederik’s family, while the other two are used as museums open to visitors.

3. Prince’s Palace in Monaco

Prince Albert II and his wife, Princess Charlene, reside in the Prince’s Palace, located in the heart of the tiny country of Monaco, along with their children. The palace was originally built as a fortress in 1162.

5. Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain

The Royal Palace in Madrid is one of the largest palaces in Western Europe, featuring 3,000 rooms. It serves as the official residence of King Felipe and Queen Letizia, but they mainly use it for work and hosting guests. The Spanish royal family primarily resides at the Zarzuela Palace.

6. Royal Palace in Oslo, Norway

The Royal Palace of Norway has been the official residence and office of the royal family since King Oscar I moved there in 1849. The palace contains 173 rooms, some of which are open to the public during the summer months.

7. Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan

The Emperors of Japan have lived in the Imperial Palace in Tokyo since 1868. The palace grounds cover 1.3 square miles and are only open to the public twice a year, on January 2nd for New Year celebrations and on the Emperor’s birthday.

8. Royal Palace in Brussels, Belgium

The current Royal Palace was built in 1900. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium use the Royal Palace in Brussels for their official duties but reside full-time at the Royal Castle of Laeken.

9. Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The Royal Palace was built in 1866 by Preah Bat Norodom. The current owner of the palace is King Norodom Sihamoni. Only the Throne Room of the palace is open to the public, while the Silver Pagoda adjacent to the palace is also open to tourists.

10. Raghadan Palace in Amman, Jordan

Raghadan Palace is part of the Al-Maquar royal complex built in 1926. Its windows are designed to resemble those of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The Throne Hall, typically reserved for welcoming officials, is open to visitors during the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha holidays.

11. Royal Palace in Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Royal Palace in Amsterdam dates back to the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century. Designed by Jan van Campen, it originally served as the city hall of Amsterdam. Today, it is where King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima host guests and hold receptions. It also serves as the royal wedding hall, where the king and queen celebrated their wedding anniversary in 2002.

12. Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand

Constructed in 1782, the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, was the official residence of the royal family until 1925. One of the main attractions of the palace is the Emerald Buddha Temple, which houses a statue from the 14th century. Two thrones in the Central Hall are also open to the public for viewing.

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